Black Hawk helicopters were used during interagency exercises at Button Rock Reservoir to boost wildfire preparedness across agencies.
On April 16 and 17, the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) and Colorado National Guard (COARNG) conducted helicopter-based fire suppression training and instruction as part of the annual Colorado Fire Aviation Summit (COFAS). The interagency wildland fire training happened at Vance Brand Airport and Button Rock Reservoir in Longmont, where the agencies practiced targeted aerial water delivery.
Erin Doyle, a wildfire operations specialist for the City of Boulder Fire Rescue and the incident commander for the training event, said that the objective of the annual interagency training is to “emphasize a coordinated and risk-informed decision making process that leverages ground and aerial resources to their full potential, while maintaining strict adherence to safety protocols.” The training allows for civilian and military personnel to practice communication and situational awareness when using aircraft to support fire suppression efforts.
Read more at longmontleader.com
