California Air National Guard helicopter crews join in California wildfire fight | WPN World People News

Helicopter aircrews from the California Air National Guard’s 129th Rescue Wing, currently based out of Tehachapi Municipal Airport, Calif., have joined the fight against the Jawbone Complex Fire using two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters to drop almost 60,000 gallons of water on the Kern County fire over the past three days.

Aircrews from the 129th Rescue Wing use an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter to drop water on a wildfire in 2008. Aircrews from the unit are currently working with state and local officials to suppress the Jawbone Complex wildfire in Kern County, Calif.

"Our HH-60G rescue helicopters are performing precision air drops of water to help contain wildfires in California,” said Air Force Col. Steven J. Butow, commander of the 129th Rescue Wing. “This is a great example of the use of airpower in the homeland to save lives and property."

Earlier this year aircrews from the wing earned their annual certification for performing water bucket drops.

The primary mission of the wing is to rapidly deploy to conduct personnel recovery operations over land and sea, day and night, in both hostile and non-hostile environments beyond the capability of others to do so.

Equipped with MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft and HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters, the unit has performed a wide variety of civilian search and rescue missions, including responding to distressed persons aboard ships, lost or injured hikers, and medical evacuations.

Over the course of its history, the 129th Rescue Wing has rescued nearly a thousand people.

Source: U.S. National Guard