Two Nevada Army Guard helicopters arrive for Slinkard Fire firefighting mission
CARSON CITY — The crews aboard two Nevada Army Guard UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters will begin firefighting efforts Friday at the Slinkard Fire at Topaz Lake near the Nevada and California state border.
One fuel truck and one shop truck will also be used to support the fire suppression; all told, 14 Nevada Army Guard Soldiers are working to suppress the fire, said Sgt. 1st Class Erick Studenicka.
The Black Hawks will perform water drops with their 660-gallon buckets. The Nevada Army Guard recently conducted aerial firefighting training with the Nevada Division of Forestry and other firefighting agencies in Alpine
County, Calif., in June, said Studenicka.
Meanwhile, voluntary evacuations are underway west of Topaz, Calif., according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. Sierra Front reports the fire, believed to have started by lightning on Tuesday, has burned an estimated 7,200 acres and is zero percent contained as of Friday afternoon.
Topaz has been evacuated north of Highway 89 to the Nevada state line. For public safety, State Route 89 remains closed between U.S. Hwy. 395 and State Route 4 at Monitor Pass. Highway 395 is closed from the junction of State Route 182 in Bridgeport to the Nevada state line. However, Highway 395 will be open with highway patrol escort when safe. A detour is in place for Highway 395 and access to Bridgeport remains open.
Numerous resources are on order including hand crews, which are a critical need, and air resources. The fire is located in Slinkard Valley and the west slope of Antelope Valley, west of Topaz in Mono County, Calif. The fire is burning in cheat grass, sagebrush and pinyon/juniper.
There are four hand crews, 51 engines, 8 aircraft, four water tenders, 2 dozers and support staff assigned to the fire. A Type 2 Incident Management Team is en route.
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