On Monday, the Nevada Army National Guard dispatched two of its helicopters and their crews to aid in containing the wildfires in western California.
A Black Hawk helicopter from Nevada’s Army Aviation Support Facility in Stead has been dispatched to Sacramento Mather Airport, along with a Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT), to aid in the firefighting efforts.
On Wednesday, July 31, a Nevada CH-47 Chinook helicopter will be joining them as they depart from Stockton, California.
The helicopters of Nevada Guard have the necessary capabilities to combat fires through the usage of bucket drops of water that are targeted directly at the fire.
The process of suppressing a fire by dropping a large amount of water directly onto it is commonly known as a “Bambi”. It involves suspending a bucket below a helicopter and using it to pick up and drop water on the affected area.
When a Chinook helicopter takes to the skies for firefighting operations, it has the capacity to carry an impressive 2,000 gallons of water per drop.
A single drop from a Black Hawk has the ability to transport up to 660 gallons of content.
Two weeks ago, the U.S Forest Service out of Channel Islands in southern California activated the Nevada Air National Guard’s C-130 for their support. Now, there is a request for additional resources.
The C-130 aircraft belonging to the Nevada Guard is stationed in Reno and comes equipped with the USFS Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS). This system is capable of releasing over 3000 gallons of retardant in just ten seconds, covering an area of a quarter-mile.
According to officials, the efforts to contain the wildfires in California will persist with the assistance of Nevada Army Guard helicopters, Air Guard C-130, pilots, and crews. These resources are working under the guidance of federal and state firefighting agencies to prevent the fires from spreading any further.
