SALEM, Ore. – Since
being activated by Gov. Brown earlier this month, the Oregon National Guard has been able to
send 80 members of the Guard to southern Oregon to help in support roles, such
as traffic control. Fifty Guard members are working on the Garner Complex (burning mostly in Josephine County) and
30 on the Hendrix Fire SW of Ashland. In addition, two Chinook helicopters from
the Guard and their pilots and ground crews are working on the Garner Complex.
One of the Guard’s Lakota helicopters is also making infrared mapping
flights over multiple Oregon fires.
More Guard members will receive firefighting
training in Salem the week of July 30- Aug. 3, increasing the number able to
serve on wildfires.
This year’s activation of the Guard comes weeks before last year’s activation, a reflection of how advanced the fire danger is this summer.
