Regional wildfire exercise strengthens military community resilience

By Dustin Senger | Marine Corps Blount Island Command | August 4, 2026

ORANGE PARK, Fla. --

Emergency managers, law enforcement officers, firefighters and government officials representing four Northeast Florida military installations and local, state and federal partner agencies tested regional coordination Aug. 4 during a tabletop exercise built around worsening drought and wildfire conditions.

Howard Wanamaker, Clay County manager, welcomes emergency management personnel from four Northeast Florida military installations and partner agencies to a facility incident readiness exercise Aug. 4, 2026, at Orange Park Town Hall in Orange Park, Florida. The tabletop exercise tested regional coordination during escalating drought and wildfire conditions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Dustin Senger)

Hosted by the Northeast Florida Regional Council at Orange Park Town Hall, the Military Installation Readiness Review exercise guided more than 25 participants through a scenario that progressed from historic drought conditions to wildfire ignition and sustained disruption requiring coordinated military and civilian response.

Participants spent the morning examining information sharing, resource coordination, installation access and emergency response involving Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island, Naval Station Mayport, Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Camp Blanding Joint Training Center.

Unlike the region’s frequent hurricane preparedness events, the half-day facility incident readiness exercise focused on how drought and wildfire could disrupt transportation, strain emergency resources, restrict installation access and increase demand for regional water supplies.

Angela Enyedi, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service Jacksonville, briefs emergency management personnel from four Northeast Florida military installations and partner agencies during a facility incident readiness exercise Aug. 4, 2026, at Orange Park Town Hall in Orange Park, Florida. Enyedi outlined the simulated drought and wildfire conditions used to test regional coordination and emergency response. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Dustin Senger)

Angela Enyedi, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service Jacksonville, briefed participants on historic drought conditions, exceptionally low waterways and elevated wildfire danger before the scenario began.

The exercise supports the Northeast Florida Military Installation Readiness Review, a collaborative effort that brings military installations, local governments and regional agencies together to identify risks beyond installation fence lines and develop shared solutions that protect mission readiness and strengthen surrounding communities.

Since launching in April 2025, the initiative has included installation visits, workshops and planning sessions involving military and community leaders.

Participants concluded the exercise with a hotwash and evaluation to identify lessons and inform future planning.

John Roberts, antiterrorism officer and critical infrastructure protection lead, and Michael Bush, installation emergency manager, both with Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island, discuss a simulated drought and wildfire scenario during a facility incident readiness exercise Aug. 4, 2026, at Orange Park Town Hall in Orange Park, Florida. The tabletop exercise tested regional coordination among four Northeast Florida military installations and partner agencies. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Dustin Senger)