Videos

Typhoon 2021: TCCOR prep

Video June 27, 2021 Hutchins AAron

“Everyone should have their emergency supplies on hand already. Don’t wait until the last minute to go to the store to buy food. Purchase your supplies, get your free sandbags and you’ll be properly prepared.”-Master Sergeant Randy Golleher, U.S. Air Force, Okinawa, Japan

Kadena Air Base, Japan, 10JUN2021. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Yosselin Perla.

In the Pacific region, hurricanes are called typhoons. They can happen anytime, but the United States Forces Japan (USFJ) considers official Typhoon Season to be June 1st through November 30th.

U.S. Marines Corps graphic.

April is considered Typhoon Prep Month, they’ve even developed the Tropical Cyclone Conditions of Readiness (TCCOR) system: “When a typhoon is approaching, we stand up the virtual Emergency Operations Center with all of our island partners. We also begin to monitor the typhoon through the Defense Communications System and we make sure all military branches understand what TCCOR level we’re in.”-Master Sergeant Randy Golleher, USAF, Okinawa

On the U.S. island territory of Guam, the U.S. Air Force issued a typhoon explainer/prep video. On Guam, official Typhoon Season is May through November:

Also, the Airmen of Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, put together this ‘cheesy’ video on how to properly use a generator to supply electrical power to your home:

Typhoon 2019: FEMA DEPLOYS HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD TO GUAM!

Hurricane 2021: U.S. MILITARY says MAJOR HURRICANES CAN DEVELOP RAPIDLY WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING!

Hurricane 2021: WC-130J WX HUNTERS DEPLOY

U.S.

Hurricane 2021: U.S. military; major hurricanes can develop rapidly with little or no warning!

Video June 25, 2021 Hutchins AAron

This U.S. Marine Corps graphic was designed by Lance Corporal Devin Darden, and displayed in the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina.

U.S. Air Force hurricane explainer video (by Staff Sergeant Heather Fejerang) issued by MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. It’s a little boring, but with good advice:

Hurricane 2021: USMC PREPS FOR DESTRUCTIVE WX EVENT!

Technology, U.S.

Rogue One ExEval: Oregon mass-casualty event!

Video June 21, 2021 Hutchins AAron

Oregon Air National Guard photo by First Lieutenant N. Daniel Delgado.

During the middle of June 2021, Oregon Air National Guard personnel responded to a mass-casualty CBRNE (Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosive) event at a place called Camp Rilea.

Oregon ANG photo by First Lieutenant N. Daniel Delgado.

Thankfully it was a training event, known as ‘Rogue One’ ExEval (sometimes meaning Exploitation Evaluation, or Exercise Evaluation, or External Evaluation, they can’t seem to make up their minds as I’ve seen all these used in military press releases), which takes place every two years (biennial).

Oregon ANG photo by First Lieutenant N. Daniel Delgado.

Crews were sent out to look for ‘victims’ who needed decontamination.

Oregon ANG photo by Staff Sergeant Sean Campbell.

A victim is brought in for decontamination.

Oregon ANG photo by First Lieutenant N. Daniel Delgado.

Oregon Air National Guard video by Major Samuel Lee, showing what you can expect if you become a victim and need to be decontaminated:

Oregon ANG photo by Staff Sergeant Sean Campbell.

Even the rescuers/responders are checked for contamination.

Oregon ANG photo by Staff Sergeant Sean Campbell.

Pacific Ring of Fire, May 2021:

WARNINGS FOR ALASKA, HAWAII & WASHINGTON

May 2021:

U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer Second Class Brigitte Johnston.

FEMA REGIONS PREP FOR DISASTER & SPEND YOUR MONEY LIKE IT’S WATER

CBRNE, 2019: FEMA REGION 4, FEMA REGION 6, CONTAMINATION EVENTS!

July 2019: ARKANSAS HIT BY UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE, USAF SCRAMBLED!

CBRNE, 2017: UTAH’S SECRET(?) WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION EVENT IN EAST IDAHO!

Technology, U.S.

U.S. Wildfire prep, 2021: Alaska airborne Red Card

Video June 21, 2021 Hutchins AAron

“If we didn’t do this training to get the federal Red Card certification, we wouldn’t be able to support the state in every possible scenario. This gives the state the full flexibility to use resources in the National Guard regardless of who’s managing the fire.”-Lieutenant Colonel Michele Edwards, Alaska Army National Guard

Alaska Army National Guard photo by Specialist Grace Nechanicky.

Red Card is also known as Incident Qualification Card, it is a type of fire fighting training that is accepted by various federal and state agencies. Alaska Army National Guard CH-47 and UH-60 helicopter crews conducted Red Card training on 09JUN2021.

Alaska ANG photo by Specialist Grace Nechanicky.

1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, CH-47 Chinook dragging a 2-thousand-gallon Bambi bucket: “There are no civilian helicopters in state that provide the high-volume, heavy lifts that our CH-47s provide.”-Lieutenant Colonel Michele Edwards, Alaska ANG

Alaska Army National Guard Red Card promotional video by Victoria Granado:

Alaska ANG photo by Dana Rosso.

1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment UH-60 Black Hawk hoisting a 550-gallon Bambi bucket over Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

Video by Victoria Granado, Alaska ANG Bambi bucket ops:

U.S. Wildfire prep, 2021: CAL FIRE + CAL GUARD + PRISONERS

U.S. Wildfire prep, 2021: EVERGREEN STATE RED CARD

U.S.

U.S. Wildfires, 2021: Sierra Fire

Video June 18, 2021 Hutchins AAron

As expected, 2021 is turning out to big a big fire year for The Golden State, yet another U.S. military base evacuated due to wildfire.

Sierra Fire, 09JUN2021. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Kerstin Roberts.

Not even a month after attempts were made to reduce chances of wildfire, with prescribed burns and training, personnel onboard the U.S. Marine Corps’ Camp Pendleton had to evacuate due to the Sierra wildfire.

S-64E Skycrane. USMC photo by Lance Corporal Kerstin Roberts.

San Diego Sheriff’s Department Bell 205. USMC photo by Lance Corporal Kerstin Roberts.

U.S. Marine Corps video by Corporal Stephen Beard, 1-thousand acres (405 hectares) Sierra Fire, 09-11 June 2021:

The Sierra Fire came despite efforts in May, and early June, to reduce the chance of wildfires.

Prescribed burns, 14MAY2021. USMC photo by Lance Corporal Drake Nickels.

Camp Pendleton Fire Department, and other local agencies, burned more than 120 acres in what’s called prescribed burns, over two days in May. Prescribed burn explainer video by Lance Corporal Daniel Medina:

Then at the beginning of June, wildfire training was held for both military and civilian fire fighters. Interestingly, the Wildland Fire School ended on the same day the Sierra Fire started; June 9th.

Wildland Fire School, 08JUN2021. USMC photo by Corporal Fatima Villatoro.

‘Nat-sound’ video of Wildland Fire School by Lance Corporal Daniel Medina:

U.S. Wildfires, 2021: INTANKO fire evacuates Beale Air Force Base

U.S. Wildfire preps, 2021: CAL FIRE + CAL GUARD + PRISONERS

Wildfire 2020: USMC SNO-CATS FLEE SLINK FIRE

East Idaho Wildfires 2012:

Gettin’ ‘er done!

MAINTENANCE DAY FOR SKYCRANE FIRE FIGHTER @ POCATELLO AIRPORT

U.S.

U.S. Wildfire preps, 2021: Cal Fire + Cal Guard + Prisoners

Video June 18, 2021 Hutchins AAron

HH-60 Pave Hawk practices water drops, 24APR2021. Cal Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Christian Jadot.

Already this year, between January first and April 25th, Cal Fire (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) has responded to wildfires that have burned 2,219 acres (898 hectares).

Allen Helibase near Sutter Creek. Cal Guard photo by Senior Airman Melanie L. Nolen.

Between the end of April and end of May 2021, Cal Fire, the California Air and Army National Guard (Cal Guard), and even the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DepCor) joined-up for interagency fire fighting training at several locations through out The Golden State, however, this training was originally planned to take place in 2020: “We had to cancel the event last year due to the pandemic….”-Lieutenant Colonel John Allen, California Army National Guard

Cal Guard explainer video by Staff Sergeant Eddie Siguenza:

Cal Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Christian Jadot.

A California Army National Guard CH-47 about to strap-on a Bambi bucket.

Allen Helibase near Sutter Creek. Cal Guard photo by Senior Airman Melanie L. Nolen.

Millerton Training Site in Friant, 12MAY2021. Cal Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Eddie Siguenza.

Cal Fire, Cal Guard and DepCor ground crews went through CAL FIRE Type II initial attack training, which included the use of fire shelters, creating fire safety lines, debris clearing, and long hikes with heavy loads into hard to get at areas (you know, infantry stuff).

Cal Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Eddie Siguenza.

Cal Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Eddie Siguenza.

Cal Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Eddie Siguenza.

Prison fire fighters with DepCor are indicated by their orange suits.

U.S. Wildfire preps, 2021:

EVERGREEN STATE RED CARD

Wildfires 2019:

RED BANK & SOUTH FIRE HELICOPTER OPS

Wildfires 2018: CALIFORNIA FIRES MAKE AT LEAST 1-MILLION TONS OF WASTE!

U.S.

U.S. Wildfire preps, 2021: Evergreen State Red Card

Video June 18, 2021 Hutchins AAron

“We have been actively responding for the past 15 months to the CoViD-19 pandemic. With vaccination rates improving and the state getting set to reopen in June, we are shifting our focus back to supporting our fight against summer fires.”-Major General Bret Daugherty, Washington National Guard

Washington National Guard photo by Peter Chang.

Now that (apparently) the pandemic-panic-attack is over (in the U.S.), more than 2-hundred Washington state militia personnel attended Red Card basic training towards the end of May, 2021.

Washington National Guard video report, by Peter Chang, Red Card training on Fort Lewis McChord:

Red Card is also known as Incident Qualification Card, it is a type of fire fighting training that is accepted by federal and various state agencies.

Washington National Guard photo by Joseph Siemandel.

More than 4-thousand-5-hundred Washington National Guard personnel have taken part in fire fighting since 2013. Fire fighting authorities knew going into 2021 that it was going to potentially be a catastrophic fire year, due to massive drought through out the western U.S.

MAFFS prep, Wildfires 2021: CALIFORNIA

U.S. Wildfires, 2021: INTANKO

Technology

California: MAFFS prep wildfire 2021

Video June 17, 2021 Hutchins AAron

California Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Michelle Ulber.

During the first week of May 2021, California and Nevada Air National Guard C-130H and C-130J crews took part in Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) training on San Bernardino Air Tanker Base, California.

California ANG photo by Senior Airman Michelle Ulber.

California Air National Guard video ‘explainer’ interview, by Technical Sergeant Nieko Carzis:

California ANG photo by Senior Airman Michelle Ulber.

California ANG ‘nat-sound’ video by Technical Sergeant Nieko Carzis:

California ANG photo by Senior Airman Michelle Ulber.

MAFFS prep, wildfire 2021:

COLORADO

2017: IDAHO CONDUCTS MASSIVE MAFFS TRAINING, IN PREPS FOR HOT WILDFIRE SEASON!

2016: Another C-130 converted to MAFFS, U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Defense expecting hotter fire seasons?

1977: My little brother, Ernie, enjoying his tour of a C-130 at Edwards AFB Open House.

45 YEARS OF C-130 MAFFS OPS. WHO WOULD’VE KNOWN WILDFIRES WOULD BECOME SUCH A PROBLEM?

Technology

MAFFS preps, Wildfire Season 2021: Colorado

Video June 15, 2021 Hutchins AAron

Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Jon Alderman.

U.S. Air Force Reserve and Wyoming Air National Guard C-130 crews took part in Modular Airborne Firefighting System (MAFFS) training during the week of 10 thru 15 May, 2021.