As wildfire season ramps up in the Pacific Northwest, aviation crews from the Washington Army National Guard are putting in serious work to stay sharp. On May 7, members of the 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment teamed up with Central Pierce Fire and Rescue for water bucket training exercises. The session focused on the kind of real-world coordination that can make all the difference when flames move fast through dry timber and strong winds.
UH-60 Black Hawk crews practiced pinpoint scooping and dropping of water with ground-based firefighters directing targets and assessing each drop. The exercises demonstrated good radio communication, precise timing and safe operations in situations that can turn dangerous in a flash. Pilots hovered low and slow with heavy loads, pushing the aircraft close to its limits while staying in constant contact with ground teams.
“Air assets have become a critical asset in fighting these fires,” a spokesperson from Central Pierce Fire and Rescue noted during the training. “These are very fast-moving fires, especially when the weather plays into it with the wind. It is extremely difficult for us on the ground and sometimes hazardous to get close enough to try extinguishing them.”
That reality explains why partnerships like this matter more each year. Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft give firefighters reach into remote or risky spots where ground crews cannot safely operate. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jarin Trakel, a standardization instructor pilot, pointed out that repeated joint sessions help everyone understand what to expect when the call comes in.
“We try to bridge that gap by putting a face to the radio before anything actually happens,” Trakel said. “That way they know what to expect when they call the Washington National Guard.”
The training also highlights the demanding nature of these missions. Crews must manage extra weight from the bucket, navigate smoky air, and share airspace with civilian aircraft during actual responses. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Martin Hays described it as one of the tougher domestic jobs Guard aviators handle because of the terrain, wind, and need for flawless teamwork.
Fire officials on scene echoed the value of these exercises. One battalion commander stressed the importance of quick ground contact and stopping fire spread toward homes or lives. Another firefighter mentioned how rare it is to find military helicopters willing to train alongside them and how much both sides benefit.
Since 2012, the Washington National Guard has stepped up repeatedly to support the state’s Department of Natural Resources during wildfire season. In 2024, Guard aviation crews logged more than 75 firefighting hours and dropped nearly 300,000 gallons of water. The following year saw aviation assets deliver 1.2 million gallons statewide with an average response time of just 16 minutes.
These numbers show steady progress, yet the need for readiness never stops. Wildfires continue to challenge the region with bigger, faster burns driven by changing weather patterns. Guard leaders say the more they train, the safer and more effective they become when Washington families need help most.
As summer heat settles in and forests dry out, this kind of preparation offers reassurance. The men and women flying these Black Hawks and the firefighters they support are building the muscle memory and trust required for tough days ahead. Their commitment keeps communities safer when the next spark turns into something far larger.