Oregon Guard Aircrews Support State Wildfire Response

Two Oregon Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopters and two HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters began water bucket operations, July 29, in support of wildland firefighting efforts on the Hagen Fire in Umatilla County, part of a broader Oregon National Guard response to the state's wildfire season. As of July 29, the fire had burned approximately 33,504 acres and was 3% contained, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry. Aircrews completed 44 water bucket drops that day, delivering approximately 50,000 gallons of water on the fire. The aircraft, flying out of Army Aviation Support Facility No. 2 in Pendleton, Oregon, home to the Oregon Army National Guard's CH-47 fleet, received its state active-duty activation order and completed joint reception, staging, onward movement and integration, July 28.

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