Nebraska Sending Personnel & Equipment to Assist with California Firefighting Efforts

(Lincoln, Neb.) Gov. Dave Heineman announced today that several Nebraska National Guard soldiers have been deployed to help fight wildfires in California. The Nebraska National Guard is also sending two helicopters to assist with water drops in northern California where dozens of wildfires are burning.

Fifteen soldiers from the 2/135th General Support Aviation Battalion will depart this afternoon by truck. The soldiers are red card certified, which enables them to participate in federal firefighting efforts. Air personnel will fly a CH47 Chinook medium lift helicopter from Grand Island and a UH-60 Blackhawk utility helicopter from Lincoln. Both helicopters are equipped with Bambi water buckets 

“California has requested our help and we are responding,” said Gov. Heineman.  “Other states have supported our firefighting efforts in north central and western Nebraska in 2006 when homes and cities were threatened. We will continue to provide whatever assistance we can to help those fighting these tremendous wildfires in northern California.” 

Nebraska Adjutant General Brig. Gen. Tim Kadavy said, “Given the importance of our domestic mission, we are acutely aware of the ongoing firefighting efforts in California and we are pleased to support those efforts in any way we can.”