RIO BLANCO COUNTY, Colo. — Colorado’s battle against the Lee and Elk wildfires is getting major aerial support from the National Guard.
Two Guard helicopters, each able to carry 2,000 gallons of water, are making repeated drops over the firelines. The agency shared photos of its Chinook helicopters flying through the smoky skies as part of the state’s push to slow the fires’ spread.
“The Colorado National Guard takes pride in being able to help all of the citizens as much as possible,” said Melanie Vasina, a CH47 pilot and aviation liaison officer. “One of our more common missions when it comes to helping the state is wildfire efforts.”
Operating out of Rifle and Rio Blanco County, crews are targeting the hardest-to-reach flames. However, heavy smoke can limit visibility.
“As aviators, we run into weather issues when smoke blows in. Low visibility can force us to adjust our timing, which shortens our ability to drop water,” Vasina explained. “But we have workarounds for just about everything.”
Each Chinook has a crew of at least three, along with maintainers who keep all equipment in top shape and support staff ready to step in. The Guard’s mission extends beyond firefighting.
“If the fire spreads toward any town, we’re ready to help on the ground and in the air to get people to safety,” Vasina said. “We can also assist with search and rescue, manpower, traffic direction—there are so many ways the state can use us. It’s endless.”
Prepared to stay as long as needed, Vasina added, “We can keep going for weeks. We have plenty of rotating personnel, and we’re motivated to keep helping. Hopefully, these fires die down soon. I think we’ve already made a good dent, and we want to keep trending in the right direction.”
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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