As Oregon continues to battle an active wildfire season, the Oregon National Guard has expanded its emergency response by activating approximately 20 additional service members and four helicopters to support firefighting operations across the state.
The July 28 activation adds aerial wildfire suppression to the Guard’s ongoing medical evacuation mission, increasing the state’s ability to respond to fast-moving fires and protect threatened communities.
“It is all hands on deck right now,” Gov. Tina Kotek said. “As the Oregon National Guard moves in to assist our fire response agencies, I want to express my gratitude and support for their dedication in protecting Oregon communities.”
The expanded mission includes two HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters from Golf Company, 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation Regiment, based in Salem, and two CH-47 Chinook helicopters from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment, based in Pendleton. The aircraft have been assigned to assist suppression efforts on the Hagen Fire in Umatilla County.
Each helicopter will be equipped with specialized water buckets capable of making repeated aerial water drops to slow the fire’s spread and support firefighters working on the ground. Following staging and preparation at Army Aviation Support Facilities in Salem and Pendleton, flight crews are expected to begin water-dropping operations as early as July 29.
The Oregon Army National Guard first activated under State Active Duty orders on July 20 to provide a Search and Rescue medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) helicopter in support of the Oregon Department of Forestry’s wildfire response. That HH-60M Black Hawk remains stationed in Pendleton, providing 24-hour emergency medical evacuation coverage for firefighters and emergency personnel operating in the region.
Lt. Col. Nathan Edgecomb, the Oregon Army National Guard’s state aviation officer, said officials are preparing for a prolonged wildfire season.
“We expect this to be a long and hard fire season, so we’re preparing for the worst,” Edgecomb said. “We will continue to rotate crews as needed to stay in the fight and help our fellow Oregonians protect life and property.”
With the latest activation, approximately 25 Oregon National Guard service members and five helicopters are now supporting Oregon’s statewide wildfire response.
State Forester Kacey KC, director of the Oregon Department of Forestry, said the additional aviation resources represent a strong partnership between state agencies and neighboring states.
“We’re grateful to the Oregon National Guard for the ongoing partnership through Ops Plan Smokey, which enables Oregon to deploy National Guard aviation resources to support wildfire suppression,” KC said. “Bringing these helicopters into service also would not have been possible without overhead personnel from California and Nevada, who volunteered to provide the management capacity needed to put more firefighting resources in the air.”
As wildfire activity continues across Oregon, state officials say the additional aircraft and personnel will enhance aerial firefighting efforts, improve emergency medical response capabilities, and help protect both firefighters and communities throughout the state.
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