A New York Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk dumps 660 gallons of water from a "Bambi Bucket" on a wild fire raging in Minnewaska State Park, Ulster County, New York on April 21. The fire, which erupted on Thursday, April 17, consumed 3,100 acres, making it the largest such fire in New York in 13 years.
Army National Guard aviation assets responded to a State Emergency Management Office request for assistance on Saturday, April 19, when one Blackhawk helicopter flew 37 water dump missions. On Sunday April 20, and Monday April 21, two Blackhawks responded, flying 14 water missions each day.
A New York Army National Guard OH-58 recon helicopter equipped with a thermal imaging device was also used to identify fire hot spots for targeted drops.
Helicopters from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Police also participated in the fire-fighting mission.

• (Read the Full Story)
• Click here for video footage...