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| A New York Army National Guard UH-60 assigned to 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation, delivers 660 gallons of water onto a forest fire in Flat Rock State Forest in Altona, N.Y. on Friday, July, 13, 2018. Two UH-60 aircrews responded to a forest fire that broke out in Altona, N.Y., and spread across five hundred of acres, from July 13-15. Army Guard aircrews flew more missions in support of fire fighters on July 15. (N.Y. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Andrew Valenza) |
07.16.2018
Story by Eric Durr and Spc. Andrew Valenza
New York National Guard
ALTONA, NY--New York Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk aircrews from 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation, dropped more than 126,000 gallons of water on a 526 acre forest fire burning in Flat Rock State Forest on Friday July 13, Sunday July 15, and Monday, July 16.
The fire, located 10 miles south of the Canadian Border just outside New York’s Adirondack Park, began on Thursday, July 12.
Over 200 personnel—New York State Forest Rangers, Department of Environmental Conservation fire crews, and local volunteer fire departments-- have been part of the response. Crews from Quebec and Vermont have also responded, according to Clinton County emergency officials.
Smoke from the fire could be seen across Lake Champlain in Vermont, according to reports.
With temperatures in the 80s over the weekend the six hours or more in the air were fatiguing for the pilots and aircrew, said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Tom Brunschmid, one of the pilots.
The biggest challenge for the aircrews was coordinating with the New York State Forest Rangers on the grounds who were directing the water drops, Brunschmid said. Because the military radios in the UH-60 don’t match the frequencies of the radios used by the Rangers, the Blackhawk crews had to speak with the ground on hand-held radios, he explained.
New York State Police helicopters were initially called in to fight the fire. The New York State Police flies civilian versions of the UH-1 Huey helicopter and can deploy firefighting buckets which can drop 220 gallons of water.
On Friday, the New York Army National Guard was asked to put two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and eight aircrew on standby to assist if necessary at Army Aviation Support Facility #3 in Latham, N.Y. just outside of Albany. The UH-60s can deploy fire-fighting buckets, known as Bambi buckets, which can hold 660 gallons of water.
Those aircraft were deployed to the Plattsburgh area to support fire crews on Friday afternoon.
The two UH-60 helicopters flew 73 drop missions on Friday and delivered 48,180 gallons of water on the fire before returning to Latham after dark.
On Saturday, July 14 crews and helicopters were on standby, but fire officials did not call for their assistance.
On Sunday, July 15 the New York Army National Guard aircrews went into action again. The two UH-60s delivered 52,800 gallons of water on the fire in 80 drop missions.
Monday morning, July 16, two UH0-60 aircrews were back on standby again but did not expect to be used. On Monday afternoon, though firefighters called for help one more time and the aircraft flew north from Latham.
Two UH-60s dropped conducted 38 drops and delivered 25,080 gallons of water on the fire.
Each fully loaded Bambi bucket weights more than 5,400 pounds.
The helicopters used a lake two miles away from the fire site to fill the buckets, Brunschmid said.
Each day the aircrews had to stop and refuel three times, due to the amount of fuel used from transporting such heavy loads.
By Monday afternoon the fire was 65 percent contained.
Just in case they were needed New York Army National Guard aircrews were on standby again with two UH-60s to respond if required, on Monday, July 16.
Each spring a select number of pilots and crew chiefs train on using the Bambi buckets to pick up and dump water to prepare to fight wildfires.
The pilots need the additional practice because a helicopter has a very different feel when it is carrying 5,400 pounds of water underneath it.
According to Staff Sgt. Jimmy Rose, a crew chief, the Soldiers like doing these kinds of missions.
“Reacting to state emergencies are the best types of missions,” Rose said, “You’re working for the people of New York State, and when you’re doing your job, that’s who I prefer to do it for.”
