From Howitzer fire to wildfire

Story by Elizabeth Buck
69th Public Affairs Detachment

Jan. 28, 2025

LOS ANGELES – On Jan. 7, 2025, two of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history sparked up in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, Calif., respectively. Within 48 hours, the California Army National Guard mobilized to support law enforcement and firefighting efforts in affected areas. At the helm of this operation was Task Force 49, called Sentinel, composed primarily of Soldiers with the Fairfield-based 49th Military Police Brigade. Under this task force were four task forces assigned to different fire-affected areas.

One such task force, called Task Force Cannon, composed mainly of field artillery Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 143rd Field Artillery Regiment, guarded traffic control points near the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif. In addition to the 143rd Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force Cannon included Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 160th Infantry Regiment, the 578th Brigade Engineer Battalion, and the 40th Brigade Support Battalion–all of which fall under the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team based in San Diego, Calif.

These different formations, assigned to armories across the state, and trained in everything from culinary specialist, combat medics, infantry, field artillery, heavy equipment operators, and engineers, suspended their normal military jobs to provide what LA County needed critically: safety and support.

Traffic control points allow emergency vehicles to pass through to critical areas. Military and police presence also help prevent looting. More than 100 TCPs were set up in Los Angeles County in response to the fires.

“Our job out here has been all about safety,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jorge Regan, commander of 1st Battalion, 143rd Field Artillery Regiment, and commander of Task Force Cannon.

As Regan spoke, behind him stood five Soldiers with the 578th Brigade Engineer Battalion armed with rifles. They waved some cars through, then helped others turn around. As the sun began to set, their breath came out in plumes in the cold winter air. During a lull in traffic, Soldiers switched shifts, their steps slowed by fatigue. The new shift would be on for another twelve hours.

Behind the Soldiers, a building had been reduced to a pile of ash. Only brick pillars remained to mark what had once stood at this intersection on the outskirts of Altadena.

It’s not in the job description of these field artillery Soldiers to perform military police duties, but the 143rd Field Artillery Regiment was chosen to augment the personnel already on the ground.

“The field artillery unit was brought in to support these operations because of our ability to quickly establish and maintain TCPs in dynamic environments, freeing up law enforcement to focus on critical public safety tasks,” said Capt. Balreet Khaira, a field artillery officer with 1st Battalion, 143rd Field Artillery Regiment and a liaison officer for the task force.

Khaira added that working with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department was an example of interagency cooperation.

“By the end of our time together, deputies were using our acronyms, and we had picked up their phonetics—but more importantly, we realized that we all serve with the same values and commitment to our community, state, and country,” said Khaira.

Some TCPs were set up deep into residential neighborhoods where nothing was left but soot.

Any houses that still stood would disappear in the night, as the fire-ravaged wood blended with the black of the sky. The lingering smoke turned the air sour and stung the throats of Soldiers as they stood guard. They put on N95 masks and turned away any residents trying to check on their houses.