Delaware National Guard Delaware Air Guard Fire Fighter battles wildland fires By Master Sgt. Mitchell G. Gauge Kneeling Left to Right: Nikki Waller, Mike Sethman, Duke Harrison, Andy Mathe. Standing Left to Right: Rock Neuman, Mike Green. Staff Sgt. M. Nikki Waller, a member of the Delaware Air National Guard Fire Department was called into civilian service as part of the Delaware Department of Agriculture, Forestry Service Wildland Fire Fighting Team. As fires raged throughout the country, it was only a matter of time before the Delaware Team was called upon to deploy. The Eastern Area Coordination Center in conjunction with the U.S. Forestry Service tracked fire-fighting teams actively engaged in fire fighting activities and those teams available for call up. DES 1, (the Delaware Team) came up on their list. Fire Fighter Waller received a phone call at 2230 hrs. July 1, 2002 advising her to pack and report to the Black Bird State Forest Office for deployment. The Delaware Team was utilized in several areas of the country. They were deployed and utilized in South Dakota, Virginia and Wyoming before being released from their duties. Nikki returned to Delaware on July 13, 2002 and was released from duty on July 14, 2002. Wildland fire fighting is nothing new to Waller. As a veteran team member with the State Forestry Service, she has previous experience with team deployments. She has been involved in the fire service as a volunteer fire fighter/EMT with Mill Creek Fire Company since June of 2000, and transferred from the 166th Aerial Port Flight to the 166th CES/CEF Fire Protection Flight in February of 2002. She was recently selected as a full time Airfield Fire Fighter with Delaware Guard and is currently serving in that capacity.

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