Oregon Guard aircrews begin water bucket missions on eastern Oregon wildfires

Oregon Guard Aircrews Support Wildfire Response

JULY 31, 2026 — Two Oregon Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopters and two HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters began water bucket operations July 29 in support of wildland firefighting efforts on the Hagen Fire in Umatilla County. The mission is part of the Oregon National Guard’s broader response to the state’s 2026 wildfire season. As of July 29, the Hagen Fire had burned approximately 33,504 acres and was 3% contained, according to the Oregon…

Oregon Guard aircrews begin water bucket missions on eastern Oregon wildfires

Oregon Army National Guard aircrews began water bucket operations July 29, 2026, flying CH-47 Chinook and HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters in support of wildland firefighting on the Hagen Fire in Umatilla County. Operating out of Army Aviation Support Facility #2 in Pendleton, crews completed 44 water drops that day, delivering approximately 50,070 gallons of water on a fire that had burned more than 33,500 acres. Guard maintainers, crew chiefs, an…