BISMARCK, N.D. - The North Dakota Army National Guard finished its mission Wednesday of assisting first responders battle a wildfire south of Bismarck, near the residential area of Briardale.
Guard responders included14 personnel on state active duty and three helicopters with Bambi Buckets, which allow Soldiers to scoop water from lakes and drop on the fire.The response began Monday, when the Guard launched two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.
Gov. Jack Dalrymple extended an executive order which authorized the adjutant general, Maj. Gen. David A. Sprynczynatyk, to activate North Dakota National Guard resources in support of local and tribal governments fighting wildfires.
The first Black Hawk launched at 3:57 p.m. CDT from the Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility south of the Bismarck airport. The second helicopter took off at 5 p.m.
The Black Hawks are assigned to the Bismarck-based Company C, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment and will use 600-gallon water buckets to help control the wildfire.
The helicopters will scoop water out of the Missouri River and will assist as fuel and flying conditions allow or until the mission is complete, according to a National Guard news release.