La. Guard aviation assets drop over 1 million gallons of water to combat persistent wildfires
Published 12:47 pm Friday, September 1, 2023
Louisiana National Guard aviators conduct water-bucket missions assisting the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Louisiana State Fire Marshal office and local officials in combating the wildfires in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, August 23, 2023. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Scott D. Longstreet)
A CH-47 Chinook helicopter crew member from 1-169th General Support Aviation Battalion, Alabama National Guard, coordinates the operation of a bambi bucket from his observation position for water-drop missions in support of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Louisiana State Fire Marshal office and local officials in their efforts to combat wildfires in Beauregard and Vernon Parish, Louisiana, August 30, 2023. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Peter Drasutis)
A CH-47 Chinook helicopter crew member from 1-169th General Support Aviation Battalion, Alabama National Guard, prepares a bambi bucket for water-drop missions in support of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Louisiana State Fire Marshal office and local officials in their efforts to combat wildfires in Beauregard and Vernon Parish, Louisiana, August 30, 2023. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Peter Drasutis)
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Thomas Wilson, UH-60 black hawk pilot, 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion, Louisiana Army National Guard, briefs Emergency Management Assistance Compact support helicopter crews from the 1-169th General Support Aviation Battalion and 1-131st Assault Helicopter Battalion, Alabama National Guard, on mission details regarding water-drop missions in support of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Louisiana State Fire Marshal office and local officials in their efforts to combat wildfires in Beauregard and Vernon Parishes, from the 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion’s operations center in Hammond, Louisiana, August 30, 2023. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Peter Drasutis)
Special to the News Leader
NEW ORLEANS – Since Louisiana National Guard aviation assets began water-drop missions on August 23, 2023, LANG and Emergency Management Assistance Compact helicopter crews have dropped more than 1.1 million gallons of water in support of the effort to combat wildfires that have affected several parishes in western Louisiana.
As with any state of emergency, the LANG is prepared to provide support to civilian authorities throughout Louisiana to protect key assets and ensure the health and public safety of the citizens of Louisiana.
LANG and EMAC helicopter crews are continuing their mission of water-drop operations in Beauregard, Sabine and Vernon Parishes in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s office and local agencies in fighting the wildfires in the region.
The helicopter crews have utilized bambi buckets, which allows them to draw water from any open water source in extremely remote locations, to carry and drop water onto fires. The versatility of the helicopter and bambi bucket combination allow crews to maximize the number of water drops performed during their on-station time.
The augmentation to the LANG aerial firefighting efforts, through EMAC support from the Oklahoma, Tennessee, Alabama and Arkansas National Guard, have resulted in a rotation of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and CH-47 Chinook helicopters that have provided over 385 flight hours of aid from the time LANG assets were activated in response to the wildfires.
LANG and EMAC Soldiers are anticipated to accumulate record statistics for Louisiana as they continue support efforts towards these relief efforts.
