An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Oct. 2, 2020

Wisconsin Guard 'Badgers' help fight California fires

By Staff Sgt. Edward Siguenza California National Guard

FRESNO, Calif. – It took almost four days for two flight teams from the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 1st Battalion (Assault), 147th Aviation Regiment, 64th Troop Command, to fly their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters more than 1,700 miles to California to help fight wildfires.

Since that early-September trek, they haven't really stopped flying, garnering one mission after another to give California Army National Guard aviators – as well as a slew of other firefighting agencies – much-needed assistance during California's worst fire season.

"It's a very rewarding experience when people ask for help and we can go and provide that assistance," said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Mike Tomblin, 147th pilot in command. "When we got asked, it's just part of our nature to want to go do it. This helps grow the unit. The number of experiences we get from here certainly helps with our unit back home."

Shortly after that four-day venture, where they stopped at routed locations to refuel two UH-60M Black Hawks and recover for the next flight, the team achieved validation from California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). CAL FIRE, through the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), is the leading agency in wildfire response.

In less than a week, the band of "Badger" brothers were airborne, dropping thousands of gallons of water on the ever-growing Creek Fire in Fresno County. Their need expanded to the Castle Fire – a section of the SQF Complex Fire in Tulare County – where they dumped even more water on the nearby blaze.

"The Wisconsin team has been a true value-added to Joint Task Force Phoenix," said Col. David L. Hall, commander, Cal Guard's 40th Combat Aviation Brigade and JTF Phoenix commanding officer. "They were recently singled out by CAL FIRE due to their expertise and seamless integration into the firefighting team here in California. We are lucky to have them out here."

Being new to the mission in California, there are a number of things this Wisconsin crew has learned, such as flying with a CAL FIRE military helicopter manager aboard and marking their aircraft with pink electric salmon paint for visibility. They fly a 660-gallon firefighting bucket with a "long line," an extended cable that adds distance from their helicopter. Cal Guard Black Hawk aviators use shorter lines, or "belly hooking," but use longer cables for CH-47 Chinook water buckets.

"We do things differently, such as the long lines under our aircraft, whereas we understand the California Guard doesn't," said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Andrew Wickland, 147th pilot in command and a Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, resident. "CAL FIRE guys didn't know how to utilize us in the beginning, but then they came to appreciate what the long lines bring to the table."

"Long lines protect us from possible flare-ups from the fire," Tomblin said. "They also allow us to get into areas where trees might be around them or stuff like that. We've been doing long lines the entire time I've been in the Guard."

California faces its worst fire season ever. Four of the five largest wildfires in state history occurred this year, all since July. Hundreds of local, state and federal agencies have responded to this emergency, and neighboring and adjacent states have sent firefighting support – ground crews and extensive aerial support, such as unmanned aerial vehicles – to the fight.

The Wisconsin Guard is one of the furthest east of the states to respond to California's call.

"For us, our fire season is really short, typically," Wickland explained. "It's nowhere near as challenging as what's out here. We knew that before coming here. There's a significant difference as to what we have back home."

In less than two weeks, the Black Hawk teams combined to drop nearly 80 buckets of water or more than 52,000 gallons on areas too tough for ground crews to reach in central California. They were expected to transfer to Northern California, where more fires have ignited and threatened life and property.

A significant number of volunteers in the Wisconsin Guard responded to the initial request to help California. It came down to bringing experienced pilots to match with knowledgeable crew chiefs and maintenance personnel.

"Without the crew chiefs, there's no way we can do our missions," added 1st Lt. Cole D. Hamilton, Wisconsin liaison officer. "Once we get over the drop site or dip sites, they're the ones really controlling the aircraft. They're telling you, 'Hey I need you to come left; now I need you to come down 5 feet; I need you to hold the aircraft where it's at.'"

Tomblin said this mission is a little personal since his sister, Tamela Murphy, had to evacuate her home in Scotts Valley, California, during the CZU Complex Fire a few weeks ago. She went back to Wisconsin around the same time Tomblin, of Waunakee, Wisconsin, got the official notification to leave for California.

"Certainly when the call comes, being in the Wisconsin Guard, we want to help," Tomblin said.

"The biggest thing we'll bring back is experience," Hamilton said. "We'll be much better an asset for our (Department of Natural Resources) when fires pop up back home and they request assistance from the Guard."

The two Black Hawks and 15 Soldiers departed for California Sept. 11, and the crews remain on duty.

 

 

Related Articles
Two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 147th Aviation, departed for California to battle wildfires Sept. 11, 2020, from Army Aviation Support Facility 2 in Madison, Wis. Two aircraft and approximately 15 Soldiers deployed to California in response to an Emergency Management Assistance Compact request for assistance from California.
Wisconsin National Guard helps battle California wildfires
By Maj. Joe Trovato | Sept. 14, 2020
MADISON, Wis. — Two Wisconsin National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and 15 Soldiers flew to California to assist the California National Guard as it battles wildfires raging across the state. The aircraft and crews and...

Wisconsin National Guard senior leaders join Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers at a deployment sendoff ceremony for the 732nd Combat Support Sustainment Battalion’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company Nov. 30, 2024, at Tomah High School in Tomah, Wisconsin. Following pre-mobilization training, the Guardsmen will deploy to the U.S. Central Command area of operations to synchronize and control logistics operations supporting Operation Inherent Resolve.
Wisconsin Guard ’Maverick’ Battalion Mobilizes to Deploy
By Senior Master Sgt. Paul Gorman, | Dec. 5, 2024
TOMAH, Wis. - More than 60 Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers with the 732nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company were mobilized to active duty Nov. 30 during a deployment sendoff...

Guardsmen from Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin participate in a two-week Army National Guard Defensive Deployable Cyber Operations Systems-Modular Master Gunner Course at Jackson Barracks, a Louisiana National Guard installation in New Orleans, Oct. 28 to Nov. 7, 2024.
NGB Hosts Deployable Defensive Cyber Operations Systems-Modular Master Gunner Course
By Staff Sgt. David C. Kirtland, | Nov. 13, 2024
NEW ORLEANS – The National Guard Bureau hosted the second Deployable Defensive Cyber Operations Systems-Modular (DDS-M) Master Gunner Course at Louisiana National Guard’s Jackson Barracks Oct. 28 to Nov. 7.The course,...