Reno, Nevada — As wildfire season intensifies across the American West, the Nevada National Guard has mobilized both Army and Air units for a month of nonstop aerial firefighting operations. With record heat and dry conditions fueling massive blazes, Guard crews have been instrumental in water drops, logistics support, and emergency evacuations.

On August 3, 22 Nevada Army National Guard soldiers were activated to assist the Nevada Division of Forestry in Elko County. Operating a CH-47 Chinook and a UH-60 Black Hawk, the team responded to the Jakes Fire, which scorched over 80,000 acres. Their mission extended beyond water drops—crews delivered meals, transported personnel, and even relocated damaged equipment for ground teams.

“We’re not just dropping buckets anymore,” said Lt. Col. Dillon Sauer. “We’re embedded in the full firefighting ecosystem—moving crews, delivering supplies, and providing medevac support when needed.”

After briefly standing down, the Guard was reactivated on August 15 to battle the Rancho Fire near Reno, dropping over 20,000 gallons of water in a single day. The fire’s forward progress was halted by August 16, allowing crews to stand down once again.

Meanwhile, the Nevada Air National Guard joined the fight from above. On August 12, a C-130H aircraft from the 152nd Airlift Wing was deployed to Colorado Springs, supporting the Crosho Fire with five drops totaling nearly 14,000 gallons of fire retardant. Using the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS), the aircraft can release 3,000 gallons of retardant in under five seconds.

By mid-August, the 152nd Wing had completed 10 sorties, dropping over 22,000 gallons of retardant across multiple fire zones.