JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Aircrews from the Alaska Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment have been flying two UH-6- Black Hawk helicopters to conduct water bucket drops on wildfires near Russian Lake, Alaska, today.
Aircrews have been supporting wildfire suppression efforts of the Sockeye Fire near Willow, Alaska, since being called up Sunday.
The helicopters and aircrew were transferred from the Sockeye effort this morning and asked to perform operations on the Kenai Peninsula after several spot fires began overnight.
Due to the location and terrain, the aircrews reached the area before ground crews, and the goal was to begin suppressing the fire as quickly as possible to prevent it from spreading.
"We are initial attack for the Russian Lake Fire," said Army Lt. Col. Robert Kurtz, the Alaska Army Guard's aviation officer. "It will be up to our aircrews to determine where to drop water, and we are solely responsible out there at this point."
Aviation personnel coordinated with the incident commander to develop a tactical plan on how to suppress the fire, said Kurtz.
"The incident command team is working to develop the plan, but we were asked to head in and get the basic idea of the need from the air," said Kurtz.
The aircrews are expected to continue to be on duty for wildfire suppression around the Russian Lake area for the next few days, said Kurtz.