The drops had been a part of two a number of day operations between 16-19 July, and 27-29 July, in Blaine and Woodward counties, which noticed UH-60 Black Hawk and LUH-72 helicopters make 744 water drops.
The work of the Oklahoma National Guard was a part of a mixed effort with the state’s Forestry Service and native firefighting companies, coordinated by the Office of Emergency Management.
Brian Ryles, a Forest Ranger with the Oklahoma Forestry Service and a part of the unified command for the hearth in Blaine County mentioned the National Guard helicopters’ capability to drop water in locations conventional fireplace fighters can’t go is crucial to stopping the unfold of fires.
“We all have weaknesses, we all have our strengths and when we all come together and put all our strengths together, it’s very effective,” he mentioned. “Everybody is on the same plan and working hand in hand and I couldn’t be any prouder of the Forestry Service, local fire departments and National Guard – everything is working great.”
Further east, Kentucky’s Air National Guard was supporting flood reduction efforts within the their very own state’s jap areas, rescuing 19 stranded residents and two canines.
story by The Texas Tribune Source link