New York Army National Guard and State Police Helicopter Crews Conduct Fire Bucket Training at Round Lake

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A New York Army National Guard UH-60 conducting fire bucket training in 2012.

ROUND LAKE, N.Y. (06/03/2014)(readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crews and the New York State Police Aviation unit will conduct water bucket training at the Round Lake Municipal Airport June 4 in order to prepare to assist in fighting wild fires if directed by state officials.

The New York State Police aviation unit will also be conducting their own helicopter water bucket training to prepare to fight wild fires at the same time and place. A number of State Police pilots will be training with their Bell Huey II and 750 pound water bucket. NYS DEC Forest Rangers will be working with State Police on the ground.

Members of the press are invited to observe the training.

WHO: Pilots and crews of the New York Army National Guard Army Aviation Support Facility in Latham and New York State Police Aviation Unit.

WHAT: Training of Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crews and New York State Police Huey II helicopter crews on waterbucket operations in preparation for wild fire season.

WHERE: Round Lake Airport, Airfield Road off Route 67, Round Lake, NY 12118.

WHEN: Wednesday, June 4 at 10 a.m. (This date may be changed due to bad weather)

Coverage Opportunities

News media are encouraged to arrive at the Round Lake Airport where they can interview one of the crew members participating in the training and then reposition over to Route 9 in Round Lake to view the aircraft bucket operations over Round Lake. Contact Col. Richard Goldenberg of the New York Army National Guard Public Affairs Officer at 727-7314 for access to the training.

BACKGROUND

New York Army National Guard helicopter pilots and aircrew use the buckets, known by the trademarked name of Bambi Buckets, to scoop up water from lakes and rivers and then dump the water on forest or wildfires.

The collapsible buckets, which are hung underneath the helicopters, can dump 560 gallons of water on a fire each time they are used.

Each spring Army National Guard helicopter crew members and maintenance personnel retrain on how to attach the buckets to Blackhawk helicopters and then practice picking up water and dumping it.

The New York State Police use a 750 pound version of the fire buckets to conduct their firefighting missions suspended beneath a Bell Huey II helicopter.

The training is necessary because a bucket full of water weights two tons and helicopter pilots need to practice flying with that additional weight hanging under their aircraft in order to fly safely in an emergency.

The New York Army National Guard employs helicopter firefighting equipment when local agencies request support through the New York State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.

The last time New York Army National Guard helicopters had to be employed in a firefighting role was in April 2008 when a series wildfire developed at Minnewaska State Park in Ulster County.