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	Joint Task Force Bravo Helps to Fight Wildfires in Panama
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        <h1 class="title">Joint Task Force Bravo Helps to Fight Wildfires in Panama</h1>
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            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2016/Apr/21/2001520020/1920/1080/0/160417-O-ZZ999-0417.JPG"
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                 alt="U.S. Ambassador to Panama John Feeley meets with U.S. Army helicopter crews assigned to help the Panamanian government suppress and contain a wildfire in the Darien province. U.S. Embassy photo"
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            <div class="image-title">Panama Ambassador</div>
            <div class="image-caption">U.S. Ambassador to Panama John Feeley meets with U.S. Army helicopter crews assigned to help the Panamanian government suppress and contain a wildfire in the Darien province. U.S. Embassy photo</div>
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    <div><b>By Lisa Ferdinando</b> <span class="date">/ Published April 21, 2016</span></div>
    <span class="dateline-text">WASHINGTON, </span>
    <p><span>Members of <a href="http://www.jtfb.southcom.mil/" target="_blank">Joint Task Force Bravo</a> deployed to <a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pm.html" target="_blank">Panama</a> last week to help fight wildfires that threatened lives in the country’s Darien province, a Pentagon spokesman said today. </span></p>
<p><span>Service members with the <a href="http://www.southcom.mil/" target="_blank">U.S. Southern Command</a> task force, based at Soto Cano Air Base in <a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ho.html" target="_blank">Honduras</a>, took part in the mission at the invitation of the Panamanian government, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters at the Pentagon.</span></p>
<p><span>"Approximately 100,000 gallons of water have been dropped, keeping dozens of fires at bay and helping to protect more than 45,000 people who live in the area," Davis said. </span></p>
<p><strong><span>Personnel, Helicopters, Firefighting Equipment</span></strong></p>
<p><span>Joint Task Force Bravo deployed 28 personnel to the region, along with two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, Davis said. The helicopters were outfitted with hoist capacities and a bucket firefighting system for dropping water from the air.</span></p>
<p><span>"Multiple indigenous communities were under threat of being destroyed by these wildfires," Davis said, noting the United States stepped in to help after Panamanian capabilities were overwhelmed.</span></p>
<p><span>The mission is complete, and the crews have returned to Honduras, Davis noted.</span></p>
<p><span>Task force officials said small wildfires emerged earlier in the month and rapidly spread, becoming a threat to villages and to Panama Canal support infrastructure. The fires were in a highly inaccessible area where local response capabilities are limited, officials said, necessitating aerial support from Joint Task Force Bravo.</span></p>
<p><span>(Follow Lisa Ferdinando on Twitter @FerdinandoDoD)</span></p><br />
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