NJFFSA16
05-29-2002, 03:47 AM
ALBUQUERQUE (AP)- The numbers this year are greater than usual:
Hundreds of firefighters from around the nation are camping out in
Albuquerque - in tents, trailers and cots - ready to battle major
fires in the Southwest.
What once was the Albuquerque Tree Nursery is now the
Albuquerque Mobilization Center, currently home to more than 19
fire crews consisting of 19 to 20 members. Firefighters usually
spend about three to four days at the campground-like atmosphere
near Albuquerque's airport before being sent out to New Mexico or
neighboring states.
They're expected to be ready within 15 minutes after being
called to duty.
Donald Hall, center manager, said he will see more than 10,000
firefighters, patrons and staff members stay and leave the center
through this year. Expenses to cover food, water, living quarters
and transportation to fires will range from a $500,000 to $2
million within the next six months, he said.
"We have staff in abundance," he said, "and we've made deals
with local vendors for everything from tents to supplies."
More than 48 hotshot crews, firefighters who are specially
trained to approach a fire's front lines on foot, have been
distributed to fires throughout New Mexico and Arizona, including
the Borrego fire near Truchas and the Bullock fire near Tucson.
"We're expecting a crew from Colorado Springs at any moment,"
Hall said. "Being located so closely to the airport makes
transportation much easier."
Two crews of smokejumpers, firefighters who travel to fires by
aircraft and parachute to their location, are committed to battling
the fires of the southwest region.
Tom Nichum, a 22-year-old firefighter of the Pine Knot Job Crew
in Cincinnati, Ohio, said he's been at the center for three days
and is keeping busy through training.
"My crew and I have been staying focused by doing weather
training," he said. "We're not used to this dry climate so we
take moisture readings and are learning how the different climate
affects fire behavior."
Mary Zabinski, fire information officer for the Southwest
Coordination Center in Albuquerque, said most of the firefighters
working against the blazes are from the Southwest region but many
are from surrounding states.
"The Borrego fire needed more firefighters to aid in its
efforts," she said. "We called our National Interagency Fire
Center in Boise, Idaho, and asked for more help. Boise sent who
they could."
The NIFC has sent crews from Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Ohio and
North Carolina.
The Southwest Coordination Center is an interagency wildland
fire resource center which is responsible for coordinating and
facilitating the movement of wildland firefighting resources.
Llewyn Platero, a 19-year-old firefighter from the Laguna Crew 6
in Albuquerque, said he has been at the center for three days and
is anxious for his call of duty.
"I can't wait to get my hands dirty," he said. "I've been (a
firefighter) for little over a year and I want the experience."
---
On the Net:
Southwest Coordination Center : http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/fire/
(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press
Hundreds of firefighters from around the nation are camping out in
Albuquerque - in tents, trailers and cots - ready to battle major
fires in the Southwest.
What once was the Albuquerque Tree Nursery is now the
Albuquerque Mobilization Center, currently home to more than 19
fire crews consisting of 19 to 20 members. Firefighters usually
spend about three to four days at the campground-like atmosphere
near Albuquerque's airport before being sent out to New Mexico or
neighboring states.
They're expected to be ready within 15 minutes after being
called to duty.
Donald Hall, center manager, said he will see more than 10,000
firefighters, patrons and staff members stay and leave the center
through this year. Expenses to cover food, water, living quarters
and transportation to fires will range from a $500,000 to $2
million within the next six months, he said.
"We have staff in abundance," he said, "and we've made deals
with local vendors for everything from tents to supplies."
More than 48 hotshot crews, firefighters who are specially
trained to approach a fire's front lines on foot, have been
distributed to fires throughout New Mexico and Arizona, including
the Borrego fire near Truchas and the Bullock fire near Tucson.
"We're expecting a crew from Colorado Springs at any moment,"
Hall said. "Being located so closely to the airport makes
transportation much easier."
Two crews of smokejumpers, firefighters who travel to fires by
aircraft and parachute to their location, are committed to battling
the fires of the southwest region.
Tom Nichum, a 22-year-old firefighter of the Pine Knot Job Crew
in Cincinnati, Ohio, said he's been at the center for three days
and is keeping busy through training.
"My crew and I have been staying focused by doing weather
training," he said. "We're not used to this dry climate so we
take moisture readings and are learning how the different climate
affects fire behavior."
Mary Zabinski, fire information officer for the Southwest
Coordination Center in Albuquerque, said most of the firefighters
working against the blazes are from the Southwest region but many
are from surrounding states.
"The Borrego fire needed more firefighters to aid in its
efforts," she said. "We called our National Interagency Fire
Center in Boise, Idaho, and asked for more help. Boise sent who
they could."
The NIFC has sent crews from Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Ohio and
North Carolina.
The Southwest Coordination Center is an interagency wildland
fire resource center which is responsible for coordinating and
facilitating the movement of wildland firefighting resources.
Llewyn Platero, a 19-year-old firefighter from the Laguna Crew 6
in Albuquerque, said he has been at the center for three days and
is anxious for his call of duty.
"I can't wait to get my hands dirty," he said. "I've been (a
firefighter) for little over a year and I want the experience."
---
On the Net:
Southwest Coordination Center : http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/fire/
(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press