CENTENNIAL, Colo. - Soldiers with the Colorado Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment have joined firefighting efforts at the Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs, Colo.
One UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter equipped with a Bambi Bucket and an aircrew has been sent to Waldo Canyon at the request of the incident commander. Each bucket is capable of carrying and delivering nearly 500 gallons of water at a time.
Additional Colorado Guard assets are standing by should they be called.
The Colorado Army Guard is operating under the governor's executive order to assist the Colorado Division of Emergency Management and the incident commander in fighting the Waldo Canyon fire.
"Our aircrews are just transitioning from a challenging but successful firefighting mission on the High Park fires," said Air Force Maj. Gen Mike Edwards, adjutant general of 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."
During the High Park firefighting mission Colorado National Guard crews dropped more than 50,000 gallons of water on the fire.
The helicopter and crew members launched from the Army Aviation Support Facility on Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, Colo.