Idaho Air National Guard to battle fire

About 40 members of the Idaho Air National Guard have been called upon to assist firefighting efforts for the Tower Fire near Priest Lake.

Guard personnel departed Gowen Field via convoy in Boise Wednesday morning and will staff traffic control points on roads leading into the fire area. The were expected to take over their assigned checkpoints either Wednesday night or this morning.

At the direction of Gov. Butch Otter, Guard members were placed on state active duty on Wednesday. The request for assistance was coordinated through the Idaho Emergency Operations Center within the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security.

The activation is in addition to Idaho Army National Guard personnel and equipment supporting helicopter operations at the Clearwater Complex Fire in north-central Idaho.

Upon reporting to Gowen Field, the Air National Guard's task force received briefings in preparation for the mission, and completed pre-deployment tasks, which included preparing personnel and stocking vehicles with supplies necessary for sustained operations into September. Its mission is tentatively scheduled to end mid-September.

"Citizen soldiers of the Idaho National Guard and personnel from the Idaho Bureau of Homeland security are in close coordination to make this mission happen," said Maj. Gen. Gary L. Sayler, adjutant general for the state of Idaho.

"This is what the Idaho Military Division trains for, this is what they're prepared to do. I'm impressed with their teamwork during this state emergency."

The Idaho Emergency Operations Center is activated and continues to monitor the situation, process requests for assistance and issue mission assignments to support the ongoing fire suppression efforts.

The activation and missions are made possible through Otter's disaster declaration issued Aug. 13.