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04/27/2026 | News release | Archived content

Georgia National Guard aids wildfire suppression efforts

1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption - Two CH-47 Chinook helicopter crews with Bravo Company, 1st General Support Aviation Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment, 78th Aviation Troop Command, Georgia Army National Guard, pass each other during the wildfire suppression efforts in Pineland, Georgia, April 25, 2026. Defense plays an integral role in declared emergencies by providing a versatile, ready force capable of responding to natural and man-made disasters across the United States. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jordan McNeal) VIEW ORIGINAL 2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption - A CH-47 Chinook helicopter crew with Bravo Company, 1st General Support Aviation Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment, 78th Aviation Troop Command, Georgia Army National Guard, dumps water with a Bambi Bucket during the wildfire suppression efforts in Pineland, Georgia, April 25, 2026. Defense plays an integral role in declared emergencies by providing a versatile, ready force capable of responding to natural and man-made disasters across the United States. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jordan McNeal) VIEW ORIGINAL 3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption - A CH-47 Chinook helicopter crew with Bravo Company, 1st General Support Aviation Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment, 78th Aviation Troop Command, Georgia Army National Guard, dumps water with a Bambi Bucket during the wildfire suppression efforts in Pineland, Georgia, April 25, 2026. Defense plays an integral role in declared emergencies by providing a versatile, ready force capable of responding to natural and man-made disasters across the United States. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jordan McNeal) VIEW ORIGINAL

WAYCROSS, Ga. - The Georgia National Guard is supporting wildfire suppression efforts in South Georgia in coordination with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) and local authorities.

Following a state of emergency declared by Gov. Brian Kemp on April 22, up to 150 Georgia National Guardsmen were authorized for state active duty. The Guard's response is part of a whole-of-government effort, with GEMA/HS serving as the lead agency.

"This is probably the closest thing that we come to for a real-world mission that is similar to combat in the sense that we have to coordinate with many other agencies," said U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Sean Brigham, battalion aviation survivability officer for 1st General Support Aviation Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment, 78th Aviation Troop Command, Georgia Army National Guard. "We have to continually talk to multiple players in the airspace while doing our flying and mission jobs."

The Georgia National Guard has deployed three CH-47 Chinook helicopters and five UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, operated by Soldiers from the 78th Aviation Troop Command. Using helicopter water buckets, crews are drawing water from reservoirs in Echols and Brantley counties and conducting aerial water drops over affected areas. As of the evening of April 26, Guard crews have dropped approximately 350,000 gallons of water on the fires.

U.S. Army Soldiers with the 78th Aviation Troop Command, Georgia Army National Guard, conduct wildfire suppression operations April 2026 in South Georgia. The Georgia Department of Defense plays an integral role in declared emergencies by providing a versatile and ready force capable of responding to natural and manmade disasters across the United States. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Sgt. 1st Class James Braswell)

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"The communication has been superb with the Forestry Service; both Georgia and the National Forestry Service," said Brigham.

The Guard is working alongside the Georgia Forestry Commission, with air operations coordinated at Waycross-Ware County Airport in Waycross, Georgia.

"We have typically done (biennial) training with the Georgia National Guard to keep them informed on firefighting tactics and techniques," said Clay Chatham, air operations chief with the Georgia Forestry Commission. "They've been a real force multiplier with this fire."

The Georgia National Guard has a long history of supporting wildfire response efforts. In March 2011, Guardsmen conducted suppression operations in South Georgia near Savannah and the Okefenokee, and in 2017 and 2025, they supported wildfire response efforts in South Carolina. Today, the Guard continues to apply those lessons while leveraging new skills and technology to protect communities.

Local volunteers have also supported the mission, bringing water and food to personnel operating from the Waycross-Ware County Airport.

"We know that there's lots of resources in place from the different groups that are here," said Wayne Gilmore, a local business manager. "Y'all are here taking care of us, it's only right for us to help take care of y'all."

While supporting wildfire suppression operations at home, the Georgia National Guard continues to maintain readiness to support missions across multiple combatant commands worldwide.