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Annual Wildfire Exercise Demonstrates Joint Firefighting Capability

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS130513-29
5/13/2013

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jesse L. Gonzalez
Commander, U.S. Third Fleet Public Affairs

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (NNS) -- U.S. Third Fleet and I Marine Expeditionary Force's 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing assets participated in an interagency and joint wildfire training exercise with CAL FIRE and the San Diego Sheriff's Department, May 9.

This cooperative exercise allows military assets to integrate with CAL FIRE and local agencies by preparing personnel and equipment to combat wildfires.

MH-60S Seahawks from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 3 and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21 along with one CH-46E Sea Knight from the "Knightriders" of Marine Medium Helicopter Training Squadron (HMMT) 164 and various CAL FIRE assets trained to establish effective coordination and execution of combating wildfire outbreaks in Southern California.

"It's important that everybody is accustomed to working in a joint-agency environment so we have a good clean method of doing things safely," said John Winder, deputy chief of tactical air operations.

Through these annual exercises, military units train to increase their proficiency in combating wildfires. The most recent example occurred May 3 at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu where three flight crews from (HSC) 3 and (HSC) 21 dropped roughly 20,000 gallons of water to save threatened housing areas from a wildfire on base.

"We are already having significant fire activity with the fires in Ventura and some incidents up in Northern California," added Winder. "It is extremely rare to have that kind of fire activity this early in the year. It's no secret that it has been a dry year, and we're anticipating what could potentially be a very busy season."

This is the sixth annual exercise according to Lt. Col. Dena Gemmingin, the deputy director of aviation Marine Corps Installations West. Since the 2007 Southern California wildfires, the Navy and Marine Corps have supported CAL FIRE during numerous firefighting efforts such as 2012 Ranchita wildfires where U.S. Third Fleet and I MEF assets assisted local authorities for three days, eventually putting out the fire.

"Today demonstrated how the world's greatest fighting force and the greatest Navy supports domestic efforts for wild land firefighting both on installation and, if needed, off installation," said Gemmingin. "It also showcases the great partnership that exists between the Navy and the Marine Corps and, in addition, the partnership that has been established with CAL FIRE and local agencies."

"Concurrently, Assault Craft Unit 5 (ACU 5) and CAL FIRE conducted a load exercise in case of wildfire outbreak on Catalina Island," said Gemmingin. "Local agencies don't have the capability of projecting forces in a timely fashion without the support of the Navy. The Navy is able to load the fire engines on the landing craft air cushion (LCAC) and send them over to the island in order to combat the fire."

"It's exciting for me to come down here annually and see this training exercise. It's huge to know that we have the surge capabilities from the military sources down here in Southern California, and it is truly a model that is being looked at nationwide for the military to be able to help out there local communities," said Winder.

Joint, interagency and international relationships strengthen U.S. Third Fleet and I MEF's ability to respond to crises and protect the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its allies and partners.