Tennessee – At the request of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, the Tennessee Army National Guard has deployed two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters to assist in wildfire response efforts in Mountain City.
The helicopters, from Knoxville’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion, departed from McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base around 10:10 a.m. CST on the morning of the request.
Equipped with Bambi Buckets, the helicopters are capable of delivering hundreds of gallons of water to aid in firefighting efforts.
The aircraft can draw water from nearby sources and deliver it directly to the affected areas, providing critical support to first responders on the ground.
The Soldiers, Airmen, and aircrews of the Tennessee National Guard remain on standby and are prepared to continue assisting with firefighting efforts for as long as necessary.