Colo. Guard aircrews assisting in high park fire relief efforts

Colorado National Guard Public Affairs

FILE PHOTO: A UH-60 Black Hawk with the Colorado Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 135th General Support Aviation, fills a 500-gallon water bucket at Strontia Springs Reservoir in the vicinity of Conifer, Colo., March 28, 2012. The 2-135th GSAB is operating under the Colorado governor’s executive order to assist the Colorado Department of Emergency Management and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department in fighting the Lower North Fork fire, which began March 26 in Jefferson County, Colo. The fire has given rise to the evacuation of more than 900 homes and is estimated to have covered more than 4,000 acres. (Army National Guard photo by Spc. Bethany Fehringer/RELEASED)

Click here or on the photo for a high-resolution file.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Sunday, June 10, 2012

CONTACT:
Air National Guard Capt. Darin Overstreet
720-250-1053

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (6/10/12) – The Colorado Army National Guard is currently assisting firefighting efforts at the High Park fire in Larimer County, Colo.

Two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters with a total of seven crew members are now at the Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport awaiting mission assignment.

Two additional Soldiers are supporting the Incident Command Team, which is headquartered at the Colorado National Guard's Fort Collins Readiness Center.

Two additional Colorado National Guardsmen and a fuel truck are scheduled to support the mission starting June 11.

The Colorado Army National Guard is operating under the governor’s executive order to assist the Colorado Division of Emergency Management and the Larimer County Sheriff’s Department in fighting the High Park fire.

“We, as members of the National Guard, see it fit to always be available and ready to support those in need at the request of the governor,” said Adjutant General of Colorado Maj. Gen Mike Edwards, who commands the Colorado National Guard. “It’s our highest priority to respond immediately in times of need. We are neighbors helping neighbors. That’s why we serve.”

The helicopters and crews launched from the Army Aviation Support Facility on Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, Colo., equipped with one BamBi Bucket® each. One bucket is capable of carrying and delivering nearly 500 gallons of water at a time.

The flight crews are Colorado Army National Guard Citizen-Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 135th General Support Aviation.

Public information is available at the Larimer County Emergency Information line at 970-498-5500 where Information Officers are answering the phone, and at www.larimer.org or on Twitter @larimersheriff, or Inciweb at http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2904.

Colorado National Guard Citizen-Soldiers and Citizen-Airmen are always ready, always there to support civil authorities.

Photo gallery of UH-60 firefighting operations: http://www.flickr.com/photos/conationalguard/sets/72157629692849721/

Fact Sheet UH-60 Black Hawk:
http://www.army.mil/factfiles/equipment/aircraft/blackhawk.html

-30-

http://co.ng.mil | http://co.ng.mil/Facebook | http://co.ng.mil/Twitter | http://co.ng.mil/Youtube | http://co.ng.mil/Flickr

6/10/2012