Many communities in the Midwest and Southwest are battling intense wildfires, and in an effort to help in the fight, the National Guard recently increased its involvement. The reserve force has now mobilized more than 100 soldiers and multiple aircrafts in California, Oklahoma, Utah and Nebraska, Army News Service reports.
So far, Utah has received the most support from the National Guard. Sixty-four Guardsmen have leaped into action in the Beehive State. They also brought three UH-60 Black Hawks along with them, with each aircraft outfitted with Bambi Buckets to help douse the flames from the air.
As for the other states, 30 National Guard members have been activated in Oklahoma, 21 in California and 11 in Nevada. The help of the Guard may prove to be invaluable as the Untied States faces one of the worst years for forest fires in quite some time.
Colorado has been hit especially hard, having its worst fire season in more than 10 years, while New Mexico had its most destructive fires in its history during May, June and July, reports The Associated Press. As a result, the National Forest Service has spent more than $28 million battling the blazes.