Civil Air Patrol’s North Dakota Wing provided more than 300 photos during damage assessment flights totaling 5½ hours in response to wildfires in the northwest part of the state at the request of the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services – Division of Homeland Security.
Aircrews from Minot and Dickenson conducted two flights Oct. 6 in support of firefighting authorities responding to wildfires across western North Dakota. The wing members focused on providing aerial imagery, reconnaissance, and damage assessment for the Elk Horn Fire near Grassy Butte and the Bear Den Fire near Mandaree.
“Our crew was reviewing aircraft operations en route to the tasked burn area Monday,” Maj. Jeffrey Slocum of Minot, commander of the North Dakota Wing’s Magic City Composite Squadron, said after an Oct. 7 flight. “With 10 minutes left in our flight, we noticed that we were over the middle of two very large burn areas. The scene looked completely different than before.
“Structures were replaced with only foundations remaining as evidence of houses, except for reflections of broken glass. Our continual training over the past six months enabled us to compartmentalize, to focus on the job we volunteered to do and provide response through this disaster.”
Civil Air Patrol uses a range of advanced technologies for airborne operational missions. They include thermal imaging, 3D laser scanning, sensor packages, and small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, or drones. CAP is well positioned to leverage advanced technology and capabilities as the nation’s premier aviation emergency services provider supporting federal, state, and local agencies as needed._____Lt. Col. Pamela K. LeathPublic Affairs OfficerNorth Dakota Wing
