Idaho National Guard members train for wildland fire response

CAMP ORCHARD, Idaho - Idaho Air and Army National Guard members are participating this month in a Red Card certification training at Orchard Fire and Emergency Services, preparing them to support wildland firefighting efforts across the state, if activated.

The training, held Aug. 17-21 and Aug. 24-29, provides Guardsmen with the foundational skills and knowledge needed to safely operate on a wildland fire incident while increasing the number of personnel available to support Idaho during periods of heightened fire activity.

"What we're doing here is creating ready teams to potentially meet our state's needs for wildland fire," said Army Command Sgt. Maj. Sheldon Stace, senior enlisted leader of the Joint Staff, Idaho National Guard.

About 250 Idaho National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have received the qualification, though some will require recertification, Stace said. With refresher training, he said the Guard could have about 250 Red Card-qualified personnel prepared to respond within one to two days if needed.

For Guardsmen participating in the course, the training covers more than simply how to fight a fire. Students learn about fire behavior, weather, safety, risk mitigation and the rapidly changing conditions they could encounter on the fire line.

Assistant Fire Chief Jeb Baker of the Orchard Fire Department said understanding those hazards is essential before Guardsmen are sent to support an incident.

"We want to ensure that when we send them away from their home, they're also coming back to their home," Baker said. "It's important that they have that knowledge and understanding of how it works across the country, because they could get sent anywhere, not just here in our backyard."

Baker said Guardsmen also bring experience from their military and civilian careers that can make them valuable additions during large-scale incidents. From operating heavy equipment and driving trucks to agricultural backgrounds and experience working in demanding environments, those existing skills can help them quickly integrate with firefighting teams.

For Air Force Airman 1st Class Cole Kanamoto, a munitions system specialist with the Idaho Air National Guard's 124th Maintenance Squadron, the course offered a new perspective on the complexity and danger of wildland firefighting.

"I didn't know a fire could outrun you," Kanamoto said. "I didn't know how much it mattered to a fire what the relative humidity is or how fast the wind's blowing. I gained a lot of respect for the people that do this for a living."

Kanamoto said the course prepared him to step into an entry-level role on a wildland fire response team. The certification also supports his personal goal of pursuing a civilian firefighting career.

While the training provides Guardsmen with another skill set, Stace said it also reflects a larger part of the National Guard's mission to remain ready to respond when Idaho communities need support.

"These Soldiers and Airmen are members of the community," Stace said. "They're doing this as extra training outside of their military training to make sure that they're ready to meet the needs for Idahoans."

Whether responding to wildfires, floods or other natural disasters, Stace said maintaining trained and ready personnel allows the Idaho National Guard to provide additional capability to state and local agencies when requested.

"I want them to know that the Guard's got their back," Stace said. "We're going to continue to train to meet the state's needs."