US military mobilizes to help battle western wildfires

The U.S. military is providing support to fight wildfires across Utah and Washington, with troops working on the ground and in the skies.

In Utah, National Guard soldiers have supported wildfire response efforts since Aug. 5, according to a service news release. Soldiers from the 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion were flying UH-60 Black Hawks over the Rocky Canyon Fire in the northern portion of the state, using water buckets to help slow the fire’s spread, the release said.

“It’s really important for us, it’s a tremendous honor for us to be able to support the firefighting efforts when we’re called upon, especially when it’s just right in our own backyard,” said Lt. Col. Penny McCarthy, commander of the 2-211th GSAB.

A Utah National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk conducts aerial firefighting operations in support of the Black Canyon Fire in Sanpete County, Utah, on Aug. 11, 2026. (Chris Aylstock/U.S. Army)

In Washington, both the Washington National Guard and soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord have been pulled in to fight multiple wildfires raging in the north of the state.

The Washington National Guard has been supporting wildfire response efforts since July 19. Aviation crews from 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation and 96th Aviation Troop Command have flown 247 hours, completing 1,474 water bucket drops and delivering about 1,244,448 gallons of water on wildfires across central and eastern Washington, according to the Army.

On Aug. 9, National Guard aviators took firefighting crews into the skies on UH-72 Lakota helicopters to give them an aerial view of the Sinlahekin Fire.

“For the first time ever, our Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Lakota helicopters were used as a Helicopter Command during a fire mission,” said Capt. Taylor Payne, the commander of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation, in a news release.

An aerial view from a Utah National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk as it conducts aerial firefighting operations in support of the Rocky Canyon Fire in Morgan County, Utah, Aug. 11, 2026. (Chris Aylstock/U.S. Army)

On the ground in Washington, about 250 soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord have been supporting civilian firefighters battling the Modrite Fire since Sunday, according to a news release. The soldiers are assigned to 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division.

They completed initial wildland firefighter training with the U.S. Forest Service earlier in July, the release said.

“The Soldiers integrated right away with the experienced civilian fire crews,” said Maj. Donald A. Galatis, the battalion’s executive officer. “They’ll work side-by-side doing the tasks the experienced wildland fire strike team leaders and crew bosses assign them. They are eager to help protect lives, land and infrastructure in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.”