CENTENNIAL, Colo. - More than 140 personnel from the Colorado National Guard are continuing to assist civil authorities with firefighting support at the Black Forest fire in El Paso County, Colo.
A total of three UH-60 Black Hawks, each equipped with a fire suppression bucket capable of carrying and delivering nearly 500 gallons of water at a time, have dropped approximately 64,000 gallons of water on the fire so far.
One LUH-72 Lakota helicopter and crew are continuing to provide aerial firefighting coordination.
Thirteen members of the 1157th Firefighting Company (Engineers), along with their firefighting trucks and tenders, are also continuing to fighting the fire.
Additionally, 80 more personnel and additional vehicles from Colorado's National Guard Reaction Force have been called to provide additional security at up to 17 checkpoints in the Black Forest area, bringing the total NGRF to 120 Guard members and 24 vehicles.
Eight Airmen from the Colorado National Guard's Joint Incident Site Communications Capability team 16 are continuing to support the incident command with communications support.
At any given time, about 20 additional personnel are providing various types of assistance in direct support of the operation.
The Colorado National Guard is operating in state active duty status to assist the El Paso County Sheriff's Department in fighting the Black Forest fire.
"I couldn't be more proud of Colorado's Citizen-Soldiers supporting our communities," said Adjutant General of Colorado Maj. Gen Mike Edwards, who commands the Colorado National Guard. "It is usually unfortunate circumstances when the National Guard is called in, but for Guard members, supporting our neighbors is the most rewarding mission we do."
The Colorado National Guard helicopters and crews launched from the Army Aviation Support Facility on Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, Colo., and are members of 2nd Battalion, 135th General Support Aviation.
An additional UH-60 outfitted with a hoist is on standby at the High-altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site in Gypsum, Colo., to provide medevac and search-and-rescue capabilities for civil authorities fighting the Big Meadow fire in Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colo.
Two Wyoming National Guard Civil Support Team personnel provided an initial commercial internet and phone support bridge between military and civilian responders until they were relieved by the Colorado JISCC team June 12.