(November 15, 2016) -- The Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) has sent a firefighting team and one of its two Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) to assist in the coordinated response to wildfires in the southern U.S.
The national structure for combating wildland fires is a cooperative, interagency system involving local, state, and federal agencies. "When Colorado needs help to fight wildfires in our state, we rely on other states to send resources," said DFPC Director Mike Morgan. "It is our duty to help those who have helped us."
An interagency, 10-person DFPC crew has been dispatched to the George Washington National Forest in Virginia. The crew, known as "Module 11," comprises 10 firefighters from DFPC, Larimer County, Four Mile Fire Department, Boulder County and the city of Boulder. This interagency Module will spend the next few weeks helping the local Virginia agencies respond to and suppress any new fires in the area.
The multi-mission aircraft has been deployed in support of fire responses in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky. The aircraft is a Pilatus PC-12 airplane outfitted with state-of-the-art infrared (IR) and color sensors operated by DFPC personnel. The primary mission of the aircraft is the early detection of wildfires and providing important information to ground forces during initial attack. There is no indication yet of how long the aircraft will be needed, DFPC is planning for a standard 14 days, but will remain flexible as the situation progresses.