Colorado National Guard augments local law enforcement in areas affected by wildfires | WPN World People News

Soldiers and Airmen from the Colorado Army and Air National Guard have been working with local law enforcement officials in areas that have been affected by wildfires that in some areas of the state continue to burn.

Officer John Harris, of the Colorado Springs Police Department, and Staff Sgt. Casey Lemieux, with the Colorado Air National Guard's 137th Space Warning Squadron, discuss security operations in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Colorado Army and Air National Guard have been augmenting local law enforcement in areas affected by recent wildfires.

The Colorado Guard security personnel were largely requested in response to numerous burglary complaints in the affected area, said officials.

“The big switch came for the police department when National Guard forces got into the fight,” said Colorado Springs Police Chief Peter Carey. “They really helped both our community and our department.”

More than 150 Colorado Army National Guard Soldiers from the 193rd Military Police Battalion and 1st Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment have been working with Colorado Springs police officers manning traffic control points and providing security to the incident command post and staging area.

Airmen from the Colorado Air Guard’s 140th Security Forces Squadron, 140th Wing, have been riding with Colorado Springs police officers to augment their patrolling capabilities

Authorized by the Governor’s executive order these forces help reduce the workload of civil authorities around the area affected by the fire and allow police forces to focus on routine law enforcement duties and additional affected areas around the city of Colorado Springs.

Though, the Soldiers and Airmen are expected to be released from duty in the coming days as the High Park fire was announced as 100% contained. Other elements from the Colorado Guard, such as helicopter crews, have already been released from duty in response to the wildfire.

During the mission of wildfire suppression, Colorado Army Guard crews dropped 127 buckets of water, or 58,420 gallons of water.

Source: U.S. National Guard