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.
DMNA Press Releases
Loading Press Releases...NY National Guard In the News
NationalGuard.mil -- Fri, 04 Sep 2026 New York Guardsmen Earn Danish Military March Ribbon CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. Two hundred and eleven New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen tackled the rugged trails of the Hudson Highlands Aug. 28 to earn the Royal... (more)
NationalGuard.mil -- Tue, 01 Sep 2026 New York Guard Shares Air Assault Techniques With Swedish Partners LINKOPING, Sweden Four New York Army National Guard aviators shared information on U.S. Army air assault doctrine with members of the Swedish Air Forces 2nd Helicopter Battalion during an... (more)
Staten Island Live -- Tue, 01 Sep 2026 Gov. Hochul, Mayor Mamdani call on President Trump to release $87M in counterterrorism funding STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called on President Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to release $87... (more)