Inside a Heavy Lift Marine Corp Helicopter Deploying a Bucket

I had something else in mind for today's blog post, but that will have to wait for another day. I was perusing the NJ Forest Fire Service Section B10 website this morning, something I do on an almost daily basis because they post videos a few videos about wildland and structure firefighting on a daily basis. I found a very nice video featuring Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 466, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), along with other units from 3rd MAW, I Marine Expeditionary Force in a wildland fire training exercise with local firefighters at Camp Pendleton. The focus of the video is on installing and then deploying a bucket on one of their heavy lift helicopters. I am intrigued by this video because I saw the Marines working with the bucket from inside the helicopter. I thought that some of you might be interested in this video. I know that military aviation resources are often called upon to assist wildland firefighters when necessary. When this Marine Aircraft Wing, which is based in San Diego County, CA gets the call to send their heavy helicopters to assist wildland firefighters do they only fly fires in California?

Enjoy the video.

Direct link to video from Defense Now on YouTube

Utah National Guard from the 2013 wildfire season

I am a bit tired from doing some necessary outdoor cleanup today. As I often do on a day such as today, I root around in my collection of aerial fire fighting YouTube videos to find something to share with you. I found a nice video, just under seven minutes from the 2013 wildfire season of the Utah National Guard flying their helicopters with a bambi bucket working a wildfire in support of the wildland firefighters on the ground. I think, but am not certain, that you will be seeing Black Hawk Helicopters.

Matt, this video is for you, may you always fly in favorable winds. 

Direct link to video uploaded by War Fighters on YouTube

National Guard Blackhawk UH-60 helicopters can be activated to fight wildfires

I do not know the exact details of how National Guard aerial assets such as the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters are activated to help fight wildfires. But I know that many State firefighting agencies have arrangements with their local National Guard, many of whom fly Blackhawks, to help fight wildfires. The videos that I found for you that I am sharing below show Utah Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawks fighting wildfires. But it is not just out west that you will see National Guard Blackhawks. The National Guard in many States such as New York and Florida on the eastern seaboard, for example) are on call to help fight wildfires as available, and when needed and activated.

The two videos below are over five minutes each but you will get an idea of two different types of bucket operations, one dipping out of a portable tank, and the other dipping from a lake or river and then dropping on a fire (with audio).

Direct link to video on Youtube

Direct link to video on Youtube

Helos from Camp Pendleton (2014): San Diego County CA

Enjoy this video of helicopters from Camp Pendleton in southern California working a 2014 wildfire in San Diego County, California. This is for you Matt, may you rest in peace and continue to fly in favorable tail winds.


Direct link to video

Colorado National Guard Black Hawk Helicopters - Bucket Work (2013)

Enjoy this video of a Colorado National Guard Black Hawk Helicopter working the Black Forest Fire in Colorado Springs in June 2013. Video by Capt. Darin Overstreet, Joint Force Headquarters. Allow a little over five minutes to watch the video.


Direct link to video

Thanks to US Navy "Black Jacks" HSC Sea Hawks for helping with San Diego County Wildfires

It was not only the Marines who sent helicopters to help out with the recent wildfires that burned in San Diego County, California. At least one Sea Hawk Helicopter from the "Black Jacks" of the Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21 based in San Diego.

In this video, just under nine minutes, you will see an MH-60s Sea Hawk Helicopter assigned to the "Black Jacks" working the wildfire. I like the video because I get to see the crew loading the helicopter, attaching the bucket, dipping, and then dropping. There is also some nice footage shot from behind the two pilots looking out front as they lift off.

Thank-you "Black Jacks"

Thanks to the Marines for helping with the Lilac Fire (San Diego County, CA)

I knew from media reports that the Marines from Camp Pendleton, CA helped with the Lilac Fire that burned 4,100 acres (95 percent containment) in San Diego County, CA. I went looking for some videos to share with you from DVIDS, Defense Video Imagery Distribution Systems. I was in luck because I was quickly directed to a page devoted to Marine Corps Support to California Fire.

The three short videos that I am embedding below feature the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA 267), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. They supplied two UH-1Y Venom with 320 gallon buckets. All the videos are dated December 8, 2017.

Thank-you Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA 267)!!

In the first video you will hear how the Marines were helping CAL FIRE, video by Lance Cpl. Dylan Chagnon.


Direct link to video with description of video

This short video shows some images of the two UH-1Y Venom along with images shot over the fire, video by Sgt. David Bickel


Direct link to video with description of video


Finally, this last video shows one of the UH-1Y Venom's dipping, video by Cpl. Sarah Ralph.


Direct link to video with description of video