The Oregon Army National Guard continues to support the Oregon Department of Forestry with firefighting efforts at the Whitewater Fire in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness Area east of Detroit, Oregon.
Approximately 25 Oregon National Guard personnel and two CH-47 Chinook helicopters (equipped with nearly 2,000-gallon capacity water buckets), with 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment, based in Pendleton, Oregon, are assisting with wildfire suppression efforts. The Oregon National Guard was requested to assist following Governor Kate Brown’s declaration of a state of emergency.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/pYfvGYyZY7E
VIDEO DESCRIPTION: An Oregon Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter drops nearly 2,000 gallons of water using a Bambi Bucket onto the Whitewater Fire in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness Area on August 7, 2017. (Video by Capt. Leslie Reed, Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs)
Oregon Army National Guard Soldier, Spec. (Photo by Capt. Leslie Reed, Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs).
An Oregon Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter with 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment dips a 2,000 gallon capacity Bambi Bucket in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Area in order to support firefighting efforts on the Whitewater Fire on August 5, 2017. The Oregon National Guard was called upon following Gov. Kate Brown’s emergency order on August 2, two Chinook helicopters are currently assigned to the fire. (Photo by Capt. Leslie Reed, Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs).
Oregon Army National Guard Soldier, Spec. Ryan Dowell, a crew chief with 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment monitors a Bambi Bucket through a hatch opening from inside a CH-47 Chinook helicoper over the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Area near central Oregon on August 5, 2017. Dowell operated the valve beneath the bucket which allows for a quick fill and precise dump pattern while supporting the Whitewater Fire’s ground crews. (Photo by Capt. Leslie Reed, Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs).
Oregon Army National Guard Soldier, Sgt. Jeremy Maddox, a flight engineer with 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment surveys a dip point from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter over the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Area on August 5, 2017 near central Oregon. Oregon National Guardsmen from Pendleton were called into action to support the Whitewater Fire following Gov. Kate Brown’s state of emergency on August 2nd. The declaration authorizes the Oregon National Guard to support Oregon’s Department of Forestry as necessary with firefighting efforts. (Photo by Capt. Leslie Reed, Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs).
An Oregon Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter with 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment carries a 2,000 gallon capacity Bambi Bucket above the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Area in order to support firefighting efforts on the Whitewater Fire on August 5, 2017. The Oregon National Guard was called upon following Gov. Kate Brown’s emergency order on August 2, two Chinook helicopters are currently assigned to the fire. (Photo by Capt. Leslie Reed, Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs).
An Oregon Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter with 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment dups a 2,000 gallon capacity Bambi Bucket amid smoke over the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Area in order to support firefighting efforts on the Whitewater Fire on August 5, 2017. The Oregon National Guard was called upon following Gov. Kate Brown’s emergency order on August 2, two Chinook helicopters are currently assigned to the fire. (Photo by Capt. Leslie Reed, Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs).
