Emergency.Blog

Military Assistance and Aircraft Movements Due to SoCal Wildfires

Pendleton warns some to be prepared to leave

Fires prompt Corps to send Miramar aircraft elsewhere as 'precaution'

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Oct 22, 2007 21:36:54 EDT

OCEANSIDE, CA: As wildfires raged in an adjacent town, Camp Pendleton officials on Monday afternoon warned some base residents to prepare for an emergency evacuation.

No mandatory evacuation was ordered as of 5:15 p.m. California time, but base officials wanted residents of several neighborhoods in the east part of the base -- De Luz, Serra Mesa, San Luis Rey and O'Neill housing areas -- to prepare their families just in case.

"The Provost Marshal and military police will announce an evacuation plan, routes and billeting via a loud speaker when evacuation is imminent,"Camp Pendleton officials said in a statement.

A brown, smoky haze hung over Camp Pendleton late afternoon as firefighters battled a growing blaze in Fallbrook, a town just east of Camp Pendleton and Fallbrook Naval Weapons Station. The Rice fire flared up near Rainbow and jumped across Interstate 15 by midday as strong, dry westerly Santa Ana winds pushed the fires to the west. The fire was one of a half-dozen burning in San Diego County.

"Erring on the side of caution, Camp Pendleton officials are recommending military members and their families begin to pack personal belongings and plenty of water,"base officials said.

"Military members are encouraged to pack their personal belongings and stay tuned for additional information of available billeting. Military members who have already packed and have developed a safe route to local relatives and friends, on and off base, are authorized to do so at this time.?

"Safety is paramount: I urge all residents to take prudent precautions ahead of time. Do not wait to begin to prepare,"said Col. James B. Seaton III, base commander.

An expansive wildfire in San Diego threatened communities near Miramar Marine Corps Air Station and prompted officials to evacuate aircraft.

Marine Corps air crews began flying helicopters, fighter jets and aircraft to other military bases in California and Arizona, said 1st Lt. Jill Leyden, an air station spokeswoman. "This is a precautionary measure to prevent damage to aircraft and associated equipment,"Leyden said in a statement.

Camp Pendleton established an information hotline: 1-866-430-2764. Base officials said displaced military families, as well as retirees and Defense Department civilian workers, can turn to base services at the base for temporary lodging, information and other assistance:

* Billeting: 760-430-4702.

* Main Gate Commissary: 760-430-1701.

* Naval Hospital: 760-25-4357.

* San Luis Rey Day Care Centers: 760-725-5608.

* Base Chaplain Services: 760725-4700.

* Abbey Reinke Community Center: 760-763-0649.

Article continues at the Marine Corp Times: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/10/navy_californiawildfires_071022w/

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Six Navy copter crews helping fight wildfires

SAN DIEGO, CA: Six crews from the Navy's Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85 are helping to fight the wildfires in San Diego County, a Naval Air Forces spokeswoman said.

The teams, based at North Island Naval Air Station, are the only local Navy personnel trained to fight fires from the air. They typically handle blazes on local military bases, said Lt. Cmdr. Liz Meydenbauer.

The California Department of Forestry has assigned them to battle the Witch Creek fire.

The crews fly in MH-60 Seahawk helicopters, which carry a 420-gallon water bucket and can fly 60 to 90 minutes without refueling, Meydenbauer said. They are operating out of the Imperial Beach Outlying Naval Base.

Meanwhile, Miramar Marine Corps Air Station has contributed several aircraft and crews to firefighting operations based in Ramona, said 1st Lt. Jill Leyden, a Marine Corps spokeswoman. Several ground firefighting units and two fire trucks also are assisting San Diego firefighters.

-- Source: Steve Liewer, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20071022-1752-bn22helos.html

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