Montana Guard Chinook crew returns from Washington wildfire mission

HELENA, Mont. - A Montana Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook crew returned home Aug. 24 after helping battle wildfires in Washington, delivering nearly 178,000 gallons of water during more than 40 hours of flight operations.

Since aviation operations began July 19, Washington Army National Guard aircrews from the 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation Battalion, alongside the Montana Army National Guard CH-47 crew, have flown 382.2 hours, completed 1,762 bucket drops and delivered 1,642,784 gallons of water while supporting six fires across central and eastern Washington.

For Chief Warrant Officer 2 Austin Pacheco, a CH-47 Chinook pilot with the Montana Army National Guard, the mission was an opportunity to put his training to work during a real-world emergency.

"It was a great experience," said Pacheco. "Especially as a pilot, this is what you train for. For us to be able to go over there and do our jobs and help with the fires was amazing."

Once in Washington, the Montana crew worked long days supporting firefighting operations across central and eastern parts of the state.

"We were working 12-hour days," said Pacheco. "We'd get in at 8 a.m. and get done around 8 p.m. We'd come in first thing, get our lunches and head out to fly on the fires. It was go, go, go from the time we got there."

Montana's CH-47 Chinook provided heavy-lift aviation capability throughout the mission, supporting wildfire suppression through water bucket operations and the movement of personnel and equipment.

The mountainous terrain presented additional challenges as the crew conducted water-bucket operations across the fire areas.

"There were some pretty wild dip sites," said Pacheco. "We were going over mountains at about 8,000 feet, dropping down to around 5,000 feet to dip and then dropping water around that same elevation. We were crossing ridges the whole time."

The Montana crew completed more than 40 flight hours and 89 bucket drops, delivering approximately 178,000 gallons of water to support firefighters on the ground.

"When Washington needed additional aviation support, Montana answered the call," said Brig. Gen. Trent Gibson, adjutant general of Montana. "Our Soldiers brought their skill and experience to a demanding mission, working with our partners to help protect Washington communities. They answered the call, did the job and represented Montana with professionalism. I'm proud of the difference they made."

The Montana National Guard provided support through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, or EMAC, which allows states to share personnel, equipment and other resources during emergencies while maintaining the ability to respond to incidents in their home states.

While the Montana crew supported Washington, the Montana National Guard maintained the resources and readiness needed to respond to wildfire activity and other emergencies at home.

"Montana has a responsibility to protect our own communities, and we never lose sight of that," said Gibson. "While our Soldiers were helping our neighbors in Washington, we remained ready to respond here in Montana if called upon."

The Montana National Guard continues to coordinate with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, local fire agencies, and other state and federal partners as wildfire conditions evolve.

The Montana National Guard remains committed to supporting Montana communities while standing ready to assist neighboring states when additional resources are needed.