LATHAM, N.Y. - Sergeant Ed Rose, an electrical maintenance technician at Army Air Support Facility #3 checks "under the hood" of the UH-60 Firehawk for properly operating equipment while local news media looks on.
The New York Army National Guard will be lending its specially-equipped fire-fighting aircraft to the state of California under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) which is an agreement between all 50 states and four territories to share emergency management duties.
"In state government, we have a responsibility to protect our citizens. We also have the moral obligation to provide assistance to other states when the need arises. This is such a time." said New York State Governor David Paterson.
The helicopter will be initially manned and operated by pilots and crew from the Florida National Guard in the absence of Firehawk trained New York pilots and crew who are training at Fort Sill, Okla. for a deployment to Iraq later this summer.
The California Army National Guard will assume responsibility and cover all costs associated with New York's aircraft until after the fire season is over sometime in October, 2008.
DMNA Press Releases
Loading Press Releases...NY National Guard In the News
Times Union -- Mon, 22 Jun 2026 Duty Calls: Past and future on display at Army birthday celebration One of the New York Army National Guards longest-serving soldiers and a new soldier completed a cutting-edge mission of sorts. Chief Warrant Officer 5 William Solmo, 60, teamed up with Pvt.... (more)
Prisim News -- Thu, 18 Jun 2026 Cornwall resident takes command of New York National Guard brigade Cornwall now has a direct link to one of New Yorks largest Guard formations: Col. Matthew Kilgore took command of a 4,000-soldier brigade at West Point. Orange County now has a direct line... (more)
Rome Sentinel -- Thu, 18 Jun 2026 New York Air National Guard announces promotions LATHAM Three area residents have received promotions in the New York Air National Guard, in recognition of their capacity for additional responsibility and leadership, according to an announcement... (more)