National Guard helicopters to join wildfire fight in Oregon

by News Staff

Thu, July 19th 2018, 9:44 PM UTC

Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment, land a CH-47 Chinook helicopter for refueling at Davis helibase near Gates, Oregon, August 7, 2017. Two Chinook helicopters and more than 20 personnel from the Pendleton, Oregon, based unit are supplying additional support to firefighting efforts at the Whitewater Fire in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness Area. (Oregon Army National Guard Photo by Staff Sgt. Anita VanderMolen, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Oregon Air National Guard Chief Master Sgt. Larry Keller (left), and Lt. Col. Martin Balakas, observe Soldiers and Airmen training together at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) in Salem, Oregon, August 15, 2017. They will lead more than 100 Oregon National Guardsmen as they deploy to support the High Cascade Complex Fire near Crater Lake, Oregon. (Photo by Master Sgt. John Hughel, 142nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs, Oregon National Guard)

A fire instructor with the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training explains how to conduct wildfire mop-up operations to Oregon National Guard Soldiers and Airmen during firefighting refresher training at the DPSST academy, in Salem, Oregon, August 15, 2017. More than 100 Oregon National Guardsmen are being deployed to support the High Cascade Complex Fire near Crater Lake, Oregon. (Photo by Master Sgt. John Hughel, 142nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs, Oregon National Guard)

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Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment, land a CH-47 Chinook helicopter for refueling at Davis helibase near Gates, Oregon, August 7, 2017. Two Chinook helicopters and more than 20 personnel from the Pendleton, Oregon, based unit are supplying additional support to firefighting efforts at the Whitewater Fire in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness Area. (Oregon Army National Guard Photo by Staff Sgt. Anita VanderMolen, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

SALEM, Oregon - The Oregon National Guard will provide helicopters and other assistance to firefighters in the wake of the governor's statewide wildfire emergency declaration.

The Guard will provide two CH-47 Chinook helicopters and two HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters equipped with water buckets to assist the Oregon Department of Forestry.

An additional HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter will be on standby for medical evacuations.

The Guard also will provide a UH-72 Lakota helicopter to assist with aerial spotting.

State forestry has not yet requested Guard troops mobilize to fight fires.

However, the Guard has two 125-person teams already trained and certified to fight wildfires, should the need arise.

Another 125-person team will be ready by August 10, the state said.

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The resources are being made available under Operation Plan Smokey, which governs cooperation between the Guard and state forestry.

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