SACRAMENTO, Calif., Two UH-60 Blackhawks from the Louisiana National Guard departed the Mather Flight Facility here on Sunday to support Cal Fire operations in the Yosemite Valley near Midpines.
The fire, which grew from about 1,000 acres to around 10,000 acres on Saturday, forced the evacuation of 170 homes and is threatening more, fire officials told the Associated Press. Midpines is located along Highway 140, which leads to the west entrance of Yosemite National Park,
Aircraft from the 1st Battalion, 244th Aviation Brigade of Pineville, La., which completed fire support missions in Butte County July 25, will operate from Mariposa Airport performing tasks as requested by Cal Fire.
"During Hurricane Katrina, we had great support from all the other National Guard states and to be able to come out here and return that favor and support the state of California and Cal Fire and the California National Guard is a great opportunity," said Maj. Joseph Brocato, the unit commander.
The Louisiana National Guard has supported the fire operation with two Blackhawks and 10 crew members since July 13.
The helicopters are equipped with 660-gallon water buckets and can carry firefighters and equipment to the fires, Capt. Al Bosco of the California National Guard told the Associated Press.
A High Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck, which will provide fuel support to the aircraft, departed Mather July 26 and is at Mariposa Airport awaiting the arrival of the aircraft.
An additional aircraft, an S-70 Firehawk with a 1,000-gallon water tank is on standby at Mather and is available for rapid-response missions supporting Cal Fire operations if needed for the fire.
To date, more than two dozen National Guard helicopters have dropped nearly four million gallons of water on fires that have been burning throughout the state since June 22.