2025 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Thank you NJ National Guard for supporting the Jones Rd Fire

Direct link to Facebook post from the New Jersey National Guard

I knew that there two UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopters from the NJ National Guard that worked the Jones Rd. Wildfire in support of other aerial assets and crews on the ground. I want to thank the NJ National Guard for your support and efforts. Not only have you helped with the Jones Road Fire but I know that you have also helped fight other large wildfires in New Jersey in the past. You are here to serve and to help and you have done that very well.

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

Nat Guard Blackhawk helos working fires

In memory of my friend Matt who loved all things relating to helicopters, I am sharing these two videos of National Guard Blackhawks working fires (from 2013 and 2014). Matt passed on a little over a year ago. Ever since Matt passed I have a special affinity for helos. Matt, I know that you are flying in favorable tail winds.

The two videos show Blackhawk operations over wildfires from different vantage points. In the first video (published on August 15, 2014), posted by the California Guard, you will see Blackhawk operations from a camera on the belly of the helo. The video starts as the Blackhawk is leaving the dip site and for the next 2 minutes plus you watch the Blackhawk as she flys to the fire. Then she drops and flys back to the dip site to get more water. The five-minute video ends shortly after the second drop.


Direct link to video on Youtube


The second video is shot by Staff Sgt. Robert Harden of a Utah National Guard Blackhawk working fires in 2013 in Utah and Idaho. This video seems to shot from inside the Blackhawk with footage of the fire, and bucket drops. You will hear some radio communications from aircraft over the fire. Allow a little over six minutes for this video.


Direct link to video on Youtube

Enjoy and stay safe everyone.