Oregon National Guard Supporting Rum Creek Fire Fighting
MEDFORD, Ore.- The Oregon National Guard is helping fight the Rum Creek Fire in Josephine County that has burned approximately 17,000 acres, and according to the Oregon Department of Forestry, is now 12% contained. Fifty-one guard members have been helping with the safety and security of the area, manning road closure points since Monday, Aug. 29, in the Merlin area. Additionally, the guard has dispatched an HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter with medical lift and crew to the Medford Airport to help if any firefighters or support staff become critically injured and need rapid transport for medical treatment.
The medical evacuation crew has been at the Medford Airport and on call since Wednesday, Aug. 31. HH-60 Pilot, Chief Warrant Officer Corey Wadsworth said, "We are here in Medford for MEDEVAC stand-by for the wildland fires and are the dedicated MEDEVAC asset for any of the firefighting crews in the area."
On the smoke-filled roads around the fire's perimeter, the road closure points are operated by teams of Soldiers and Airmen that ensure vehicle occupants have a legitimate reason to go into the fire complex area. Air National Guard, Staff Sgt. Joshua Rose on Road Closure Point 2 said, "We're just trying to keep everybody safe, keep the bad people out, and let the good people in, that kind of a thing. The overall experience out here has been great. A lot of the residents have been really appreciative of what we're doing out here."
The Oregon National Guard has a history of helping fight wild-land fires, like their motto, "Always Ready, Always There." The guard has several firefighting crews trained to fight fires that are ready if called on to support strained civilian firefighting crews. Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen are volunteers that typically serve one weekend a month and two weeks a year. The National Guard is the primary military organization that also serves the communities where they live.
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Photos for release:
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Deep in the Rum Creek Fire Complex area, Sgt. Jeremy Hensler conducts a radio check for teammates Staff Sgt. Casey Reed and Spc. Britney Rivera at Road Closure Point #1 near Merlin, Ore. Sept. 2, 2022. Oregon National Guard members support the Rum Creek fire fighting efforts with traffic control, road closure points, and medical air evacuation helicopter assets.
(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)
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