San Diego Sailors, Marines, Cilvians Prepare for Wildfire Season

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Stephen D. Doyle II, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (NNS) -- Sailors, Marines and civilians in the San Diego area attended a training exercise May 12 in preparation for the upcoming wildfire season.

Flight crews, personnel and helicopters from Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, San Diego Sheriff's Department and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection worked together for the exercise.

"It's very important that exercises like this work smoothly with civilian and military units working together," said Marine Corps Col. James Griffin, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force's deputy current operations officer. "We are training in anticipation for the upcoming fire season, and we need to continue to train together, as we progress."

The cooperative effort culminated on an attack on a simulated fire as part of a three-day firefighting exercise conducted by U.S. 3rd Fleet, Marine Corps Installations West, the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and other regional and federal agencies at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton May 11-13.

"It's critical that everyone understands what air space management is all about and how we set up the air space management, so that when they come to work in among the other aircraft everybody understands the correct frequency to be on, what patters we're flying, and what the objectives are," said John Winder, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's Tactical Air Operations Department. "Without that, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to integrate."

In a state as large and populated as California, cooperative efforts between state, federal and local agencies are essential to respond to emergencies like wildland fires.

"We are trained in a lot of missions that can help out the public and if our loading is such that we have the ability to help during a situation of emergency, it is incumbent upon us as good leaders a citizen to help out," said Capt. Bing Stickney, California's Navy emergency preparedness liaison officer.

The fourth annual exercise is an element of the joint operating plan developed by the Marine Corps, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, San Diego County Sheriff's Department and the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Region, following the devastating 2007 Southern California wildfires.

"It's been amazing to see the progress that's been made over the years," said Griffin "Today, to see how well everyone works together, is just a breath of fresh air."