The Arizona National Guard is to send two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, with a team of 13 soldiers, to help fight the wildfires that are currently wreaking havoc across California.
At present, 21 separate fires are burning in different parts of the US state.
“We are the primary combat reserve of the US Armed Forces,” said Kerry Muehlenbeck, Adjutant General of Arizona. “The National Guard has the resources to coordinate swift responses to local disasters.”
He added: “When our states and territories call upon each other in times of need, we do not hesitate to unite our resources in support of our communities.”
The Arizona National Guard uses UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters for firefighting missions. The aircraft can carry 15 passengers and reach speeds of up to 140 knots.
The helicopters are equipped with Bambi air water buckets, which release water to targeted areas. These water buckets are filled from shallow water sources, a process which usually takes under a minute.
The Department of Emergency and Military Affairs crews are expected to join California firefighting operations starting from August 3, 2024.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported that wildfire activity has increased by 2,816% compared to 2023, with 29 times more acres burned in 2024 so far.
The Park Fire, the biggest and most destructive of the wildfires, began on July 24, 2024, at 2:52 local time. Currently, it is burning land in Butte and Tehama counties in Northern California.
As of August 2, 2024, 768,137 acres of California’s land have been consumed by the fires.
