Nebraska National Guard assists with wildfire fight
By Nebraska National Guard June 25, 2021
LINCOLN, Neb. -- At the direction of Governor Pete Ricketts, the Nebraska Army National Guard activated two helicopter crews and support personnel to provide additional aerial firefighting capabilities at the request of local authorities in multiple north-central Nebraska counties.
Eleven Soldiers deployed Thursday evening from the Army aviation support facility in Grand Island with one CH-47 Chinook helicopter, one UH-72 Lakota helicopter and one fuel truck. Both helicopters are equipped with water buckets.
Severe weather Wednesday afternoon and evening produced lightning strikes believed to have sparked at least 20 different fires, according to Seth Peterson of the Nebraska Forest Service. The largest has burned approximately 6,000 acres near Brush Creek and Highway 11, Peterson said.
As of Friday morning, the National Guard crews have completed 34 drops totaling more than 23,000 gallons of water. Approximately 10 volunteer fire departments have assisted, including two from South Dakota, and the fires are now 95 percent contained.
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