Guard units help fight La. wildfires

The Louisiana National Guard, and Oklahoma guard, have been helping fight wildfires in western Louisiana. From Aug. 23-26, the LNG's aviation and engineering assets were activated to assist with fighting wildfires in Sabine Parish. 

On Aug. 25, a team of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters consisting of crews from the LANG’s 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion and G Company, 238th General Support Aviation Battalion diverted one helicopter over Tiger Island in Merryville.  ed to see the smoke come into view and realized that it was a fairly substantial fire,” stated Capt. David Carroll, UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot, 1-244th AHBUpon noticing the significant development of the wildfires and threat to housing structures in the area, two additional helicopters from the team were called to support the effort. By 2:30 p.m. all three helicopters were on site, pulling from the Toledo Bend Reservoir for water drops.

The LANG helicopters were able to provide two hours of “on station” time making water drops that helped contain about 50% of the fire at Pirates Cove before having to refuel. 

Vy Aug. 26, Pirates Cove was determined to be 100% contained.

 Thereafter, two LNG bulldozer crews from the 528th Engineer Battalion were called to support and augment the efforts of emergency units and mitigate any possible flare-ups by establishing fire lanes and smothering debris in the affected area.

“It means a lot, personally, to not only help our community but also protect and maintain our state’s natural resources such as forestry and wildlife,” said Spec. Elizabeth Kennison of the 922nd EVCC, 528th EN BN.

To date, LANG and Oklahoma National Guard aviation crews have conducted 235.6 hours of flight time and dropped 746,526 gallons of water in support of the ongoing effort to combat wildfires in Western Louisiana. Visit https://geauxguard.la.gov/ for the latest LANG releases, photos and videos.