A 12-person team from the Tennessee National Guard deployed to Louisiana to support state, county, and local emergency responders battling the Tiger Island wildfire burning in Beauregard Parish, the Tennessee Department of Military announced Monday.
Brig. Gen. Warner Ross, announced today that 2 Blackhawk helicopters from Knoxville’s 1-230th AHB have left for Louisiana to help emergency responders battling the Tiger Island wildfire burning in Beauregard Parish, the largest in the state’s history.https://t.co/l1TSQRA2vK
— Tenn. National Guard (@TNMilitaryDept) August 28, 2023
Two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from Knoxville’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion were sent to the Pelican State equipped with a specialized bucket system called Bambi Buckets to deliver hundreds of gallons of water from the air to fight the wildfires.
According to the Department of Military, the helicopters will pick up water from nearby water sources and drop it directly in needed areas.
“Gov. Bill Lee authorized the Tennessee National Guard to provide this critical air-firefighting support to Louisiana in coordination with the Tennessee and Louisiana Emergency Management Agencies,” the Department of Military writes in a press release. “Through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, states can request relief and recovery support from other states during and after disasters.”
The crew will be based out of Esler for the next week or more, the department notes, adding that the Tennessee National Guard will “continue to work with local and state emergency management officials to assist in the firefighting efforts and will regularly provide public updates.”
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey also authorized the Alabama National Guard to combat the wildfires.
A statewide burn ban was enacted in Louisiana last week on August 25 and remains in effect, as state fire officials reported that the wildfire doubled in size to over 33,000 acres – up from 15,000 acres on Friday.
On Monday, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards tweeted, “We had a large number of fires pop up last night and today even in areas that received substantial rainfall. This is the hottest and driest summer in state history. We need a lot more rain before it’s safe out there. Do not burn anything.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Tennessee National Guard Member” by Tennessee National Guard.
