KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – At the request of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, the Tennessee National Guard has mobilized four UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from Knoxville’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion to assist in wildfire response efforts in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The operation began on August 27.
At approximately 2:20 p.m. EST, the helicopters departed from McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, equipped with Bambi Buckets designed to carry hundreds of gallons of water. Throughout the afternoon, each aircraft made multiple trips to collect water from nearby sources and deliver it to the affected areas. The aircrews transported more than 40 bucket loads of water, totaling nearly 8,000 gallons.
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Today, August 28, three helicopters continue to fly missions, delivering water to help suppress the fire’s spread. The aircraft are scheduled to support these efforts until tonight. The Tennessee National Guard remains prepared to continue their support as long as necessary.
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