An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Articles
News | March 29, 2021

Vermont Air National Guard responds to aircraft fire at Burlington International Airport

By Maj. Meghan Smith 158th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

The 158th Fire Department responded to a civilian aircraft fire on a runway of Burlington International Airport on the evening of March 24.

The response crews arrived on the scene within one minute of dispatch and confirmed that a civilian aircraft, a Piper Cherokee, was on fire on its right side and the flames were spreading to the wing. Response crews extinguished the fire within three minutes of arrival. They then inspected the aircraft for additional fire or hotspots and found none.

“They did an amazing job responding to the fire here,” said Gene Richards, director of aviation for Burlington International Airport. “Timing is everything. The tower saw the aircraft smoking and Air Force Fire Rescue was just a minute away. A few more seconds could have been devastating to the family on board. The fire was just a foot away from the fuel tanks.”

The pilot and passengers evacuated the aircraft safely before the emergency response crews arrived. At the time of this release, there were no reported injuries.

The 158th Fire Department of the Vermont Air National Guard, is the sole fire response asset for Burlington International Airport.

“We respond to all aircraft emergencies at the airport and within a 15 mile radius,” said Brannon Soter, installation fire chief, 158th Fighter Wing Fire and Emergency Services.

“Fortunately there are few fire emergencies at the airport. It’s very safe,” Soter said. “But when they occur we are trained and ready to respond within minutes, as we did last night.”

The 158th Fighter Wing Fire and Emergency Services routinely assist local first responders in surrounding communities.

“They’re backup for the rest of our community. The VTANG fire is trained at a high level and works hand-in-hand with other first responders. It’s a win-win for our community to have such a valuable asset so close,” Richards said.

The official logo of the Vermont National Guard.

TAG's State of the Guard - April 2025

The above YouTube video link may not work on all government computers. Read the transcript of MG Gregory Knight's full State of the Guard here.

National Guard News
Colorado Army National Guard crew chiefs U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Wade Shore (left) and Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Hubbard (right), High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site, perform maintenance on their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, in Gypsum, Colorado, July 23, 2025. Both Soldiers participated in a dangerous nighttime rescue that set the record for the highest hoist ever conducted in Colorado, saving two hikers who had become caught in a storm and were struck by lightning. The crew flew at approximately 14,200 feet above sea level, beating the previous record of around 13,700 feet by a military aircraft in Colorado.
Colorado National Guard Aircrew Breaks Record for Hoist Rescue
By Staff Sgt. Josiah Pugh, | July 25, 2025
GYPSUM, Colo. – Members of a Colorado Army National Guard Black Hawk aircrew tested their skill and pushed their helicopter’s performance to its limits during a dangerous nighttime rescue that set the record for the highest...

An Ohio National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter repairer assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment, does in-flight inspections during a flight to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, July 14, 2025. The operation highlighted collaboration between Army and Air National Guard units, strengthening inter-branch coordination that is essential for mission success in both domestic and deployed settings.
178th Wing Scores in Top 5% of Total Force in Combat Readiness Inspection
By Shane Hughes, | July 24, 2025
SPRINGFIELD-BECKLEY AIR GUARD STATION, Ohio - The Ohio Air National Guard’s 178th Wing scored in the top 5% of all Air Force wings in a Combat Readiness Inspection completed July 17 at the Springfield-Beckley Air National...

U.S. Soldiers assigned to the Kentucky Army National Guard participate in a radio communications knowledge exchange with Djiboutian soldiers at the Djiboutian signal corps compound in Djibouti City, Djibouti, July 14, 2025. The State Partnership Program conducts military-to-military engagements in support of U.S. defense and security goals, facilitating cooperation across all levels of international civil-military affairs, and encouraging relationship building at the state level.
Kentucky Guard, Djibouti Military Partner on Cyber, Radio Exchange
By Staff Sgt. Marcus Hardy-Bannerman, | July 24, 2025
DJIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti - In the East Africa region where a single breached network can ripple across borders, Djiboutian soldiers and the Kentucky Army National Guard as well as other U.S. service members spent four focused...