Soldiers from G Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment, have maintained MEDEVAC standby support since Aug. 13 and are expected to continue the mission for an additional two weeks, remaining prepared to rapidly evacuate injured firefighters if requested.
Source: New Mexico National Guard (via Facebook)
By Hank Minitrez, New Mexico National Guard Public Affairs Director
Photos: Courtesy
SANTA FE, N.M. — New Mexico National Guard aviation crews are providing medical evacuation standby support for firefighters battling the Frijoles Fire, giving incident commanders an emergency evacuation capability that allows crews to operate more effectively in the rugged terrain of northern New Mexico.
Soldiers from G Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment, have maintained MEDEVAC standby support since Aug. 13 and are expected to continue the mission for an additional two weeks, remaining prepared to rapidly evacuate injured firefighters if requested.
On Aug. 17, the crew conducted a reconnaissance flight over the Frijoles Fire area to familiarize aircrew members with the terrain, identify potential hazards and assess current fire activity.
The flight helps ensure crews are prepared to respond quickly and safely if called upon for an emergency evacuation.
The availability of dedicated medical evacuation support also plays an important role in how firefighters plan operations on the ground.
According to fire officials, knowing that MEDEVAC support is available allows incident commanders to plan more intensive firefighting operations in areas where evacuating an injured firefighter by ground could be difficult or time-consuming.
Without that capability, firefighters would have to adjust their operational approach to account for the increased risk of working in remote and challenging terrain.
“Our role is to make sure the firefighters on the ground know that if something happens, we are ready to respond,” said Lt. Col. Aysha Armijo, New Mexico National Guard director of military support. “Having a dedicated medical evacuation capability available gives incident commanders greater flexibility in how they plan and execute firefighting operations in this challenging terrain. Our crews are using this time to understand the terrain, monitor changing conditions and remain prepared to respond when needed.”
Although Guard aircrews may spend days on standby without being called to conduct an evacuation, their readiness provides firefighters with an additional layer of emergency medical support throughout the operation.
The reconnaissance flight further strengthens that readiness by allowing crews to become familiar with the operating environment before an emergency occurs.
The aviation support builds on the Guard’s broader response to the Frijoles Fire.
New Mexico National Guard Soldiers have also staffed traffic control points near Cundiyó to restrict access to affected areas and support the safe movement of residents, law enforcement and first responders.
The New Mexico National Guard will continue coordinating with fire officials and state, local and federal partners supporting the Frijoles Fire response while maintaining its MEDEVAC capability for the duration of the requested mission.
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