Washington Air & Army National Guard Firefighters

Washington National Guardsmen

Among the many agencies and organizations working on the Okanogan Complex are members of the Washington Air & Army National Guard. Today is the last shift for two 20-person red-card qualified hand crews that have spent the last two weeks helping with the fire-suppression effort. They used hand tools and portable water pumps to knock down flames with dirt or water, and to dig out and extinguish still-burning fuels like roots, peat, and pine needles. Two medics and four Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) members will remain on the Okanogan Complex. TACPs, which are similar to an Army Special Forces unit, are providing support in the communication section as radio specialists.