Washington National Guard provides aerial support on Sinlahekin Fire

WENATCHEE, Wash. - A Washington Army National Guard UH-72 Lakota took to the skies above the Sinlahekin Fire on Aug. 9, giving firefighters a perspective they had never had before during a National Guard wildfire response: an aerial "quarterback" view that helped provide situational awareness and support to crews working on the ground.

The mission, conducted with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, gave firefighters an aerial view of the fire and surrounding terrain to help support crews on the ground. In this role, "quarterbacking" means using an elevated view to help firefighters see conditions and coordinate operations.

"For the first time ever, our Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Lakota helicopters were used as a Helicopter Command during a fire mission," said Capt. Taylor Payne, commander of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation, and supervisor at Army Aviation Support Facility Two in Wenatchee.

The Washington National Guard regularly provides helicopters and aircrews to support firefighting agencies during wildfire season. This was the first time the UH-72 was used in this role, giving firefighters an aerial view of the fire and helping crews on the ground better understand conditions.

"With air assets spread thin and most helicopter bases mushing through low visibility, the need arose for an additional helicopter command from the Guard side," Payne said. "Our Lakotas sprang into action and loaded up DNR and Cal Fire leadership to provide invaluable command and control while assessing fire lines and providing dynamic orders to the bucket crews. What's even more unique is that our Lakota was the primary helicopter command for our own National Guard fire bucket crews in the area."

The mission adds another dimension to the Washington National Guard's aviation capabilities, which have been heavily engaged in the state's wildfire response since July 19. Since the first day on mission, Washington Army National Guard aviation crews from 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation and 96th Aviation Troop Command have flown 247 hours, completing 1,474 water bucket drops and delivering about 1,244,448 gallons of water on wildfires across central and eastern Washington.

The ability to employ different aircraft for different missions allows the Washington National Guard to tailor its support to the needs of incident commanders and firefighting agencies.

"This is another example of the Washington National Guard adapting our capabilities to meet the needs of our firefighting partners," Payne said.