Firefighting done, Guard helicopters return to Nevada
CARSON CITY - Two Nevada Army Guard helicopters and flight crews that were stationed in Mather Air Force Base near Sacramento, Calif., this week have returned to the Army Aviation Support Facility in Reno without incident.
The helicopters, one UH-60 Black Hawk and one CH-47 Chinook, assisted with the suppression of the Valley Fire in Middletown, Calif., and the Lumpkin Fire in Oroville, Calif. On Wednesday, the helicopters combined for 9.5 flight hours and they dropped 13,600 gallons of water on the fires.
Eighteen Soldiers manned the helicopters as well as two fuel-tanker ground vehicles. According to Cal Fire, the Valley Fire in Lake, Napa and Sonoma counties has burned 73,700 acres and is 40 percent contained. The Lumpkin Fire was 100 percent contained Thursday after burning 1,042 acres in Butte County.