Idaho Army National Guard fights Big Grass Fire
The Idaho Army National Guard was activated from July 30 to August 21 to support the Idaho Department of Lands and federal partners battle the Big Grass Fire in the Owyhee Mountain Complex. During that time, two UH-60 Black Hawk crews dropped nearly 300,000 gallons of water in various locations while an HH-60 Black Hawk crew remained on standby to assist firefighters with medevac support.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little activated the Idaho National Guard on July 28. The activation included nearly 40 Idaho Army National Guard Soldiers, including flight crews and logistical support. The water bucket crews concluded on August 16 as fire conditions improved. The medevac crew remained on standby on Gowen Field until August 21.
The medevac crew was supplemented by a Boise Fire Department paramedic to provide advanced life support and assist with potential wildfire rescue operations the state. The HH-60 Black Hawk and medevac crew provided firefighters with an aerial rescue capability, including a hoist capable of reaching some of the state’s highest points and remote locations. The rescue asset was not required during the activation period.
By partnering with the Boise Fire Department’s specialized technical rescue and advanced life support expertise, both agencies were able to leverage their strengths and form a highly capable aerial rescue team.
The Idaho Army National Guard and Boise Fire Department have trained together several times a year since 2018 and have conducted several real-world missions together, most recently in July.
On July 18, the agencies worked together to rescue an injured hiker on Mount Idaho. The rescue, conducted on the state’s seventh-highest mountain, was the highest helicopter hoist rescue in Idaho history
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