Nevada Guard sends two helicopters to fight California fires
CARSON CITY - Two Nevada Army Guard helicopters and their crews have been dispatched to Mather Air Force Base near Sacramento, Calif., and are ready to assist California officials with the suppression of the Valley Fire in Middletown, Calif., and the Lumpkin Fire in Oroville, Calif.
Eighteen Soldiers are manning one UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and one CH-47 Chinook helicopter as well as two fuel tankers. Both helicopters are equipped with water buckets. The Chinook can release 2,000 gallons of water with each bucket drop, said SFC Erick Studenicka.