Florida aviators train to extinguish wildfires

By Spc. Kenneth Tucceri

A Florida National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter from the 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation Regiment uses a bambi bucket to extinguish a controlled burn at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Jan. 12, 2013. Photo by Sgt. Michael Baltz

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation Regiment participated in a training mission with the U.S. Department of Forestry and the Florida Forest Services at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center Saturday, January 12, to prepare for Florida’s upcoming wildfire season.

The Florida Forest Service aided the joint training mission by setting a fire that could be put out by large containers of water, referred to as bambi buckets, which were attached to Florida National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters.

The prescribed fires were set by using a dispenser that drops small plastic spheres from the forestry helicopter to determined areas to create the fires, said John K. Fish, a Florida Forest Service fire chief.

The presence of a controlled burn added a sense of realism to the training scenario.

Once the fire was started by the forestry aircraft, the military aircraft worked together to put out the fire. A command and control helicopter, with both military and forestry personnel, directed the other helicopters on where to best drop the water on the burning area.

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation Regiment work with members of the Florida Forest Service during training at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, January 12, 2013. The Forest Service set controlled burns in the area for the aviation battalion to extinguish using bambi buckets attached to Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters. The training was in preparation for the upcoming wildfire season in Florida. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Blair Heusdens

Variables such as wind and geographical surroundings are considered when directing the water drop from the helicopter, said Maj. Michael Adler, operations officer for the battalion.

The bambi buckets carried 324 gallons of water for the training operation, said Fish. The Chinook helicopter can carry up to 2,000 gallons of water to put out spreading fires.

This mission is the first tactical drill after the unit’s recent overseas deployment, said Adler. This type of training helps the unit not only in their state response mission, but also helps them to train for federal missions.

“We are trying to combine what we would do for a state emergency with what we would do overseas to get the most bang for the buck out of the training,” said Adler.

“The goal for today was to get out here, get all the companies working together again and operating with a civilian agency,” said Lt. Col. Pat Mignon, the battalion commander.

The time of the training is very beneficial with the beginning of wildfire season approaching.

“Wildfire season for Florida starts in about 60 days,” said Adler. “We’re just working out the kinks and issues now before we get into the season.”

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