W.Va. National Guard Deployed To Fight Wildfires In Hardy County

West Virginia National Guard personnel were deployed to Hardy County Friday. They have joined an effort to put out wildfires sweeping across eastern West Virginia and neighboring states.

A uniformed National Guard personnel prepares equipment for a helicopter.

The West Virginia National Guard has joined efforts to put out wildfires spreading across eastern West Virginia and neighboring states.

Two helicopters and several National Guard personnel were deployed to Hardy County on Friday.

They aim to assist the West Virginia Division of Forestry and other emergency response personnel in quenching the blazes.

The deployment of National Guard personnel follows Gov. Jim Justice’s state of emergency declaration Thursday afternoon.

The National Guard said more than 4,000 acres of land has burned as of Friday.

Helicopters in use by the National Guard can hold 630 gallons of water each, which personnel then disperse over wildfires from above. This helps target areas of the wildfires that are unsafe for emergency responders to approach on the ground.

“Our aircrews have extensive experience in helping to combat wildland fires,” said Bill Crane, adjutant general of the West Virginia National Guard in a press release Thursday.

“We will do all we can to help bring these fires under control to protect lives and property in the impacted communities,” he said.

Dropping water onto wildfires from above allows firefighters to extinguish fires that are unsafe for ground personnel to approach.
Photo Credit: West Virginia National Guard

Author: Jack Walker

Jack Walker joined West Virginia Public Broadcasting at the Eastern Panhandle Bureau in January 2024. Previously, he worked for the Washington Blade and the Times West Virginian in Fairmont. He has received both a master's and bachelor's degree from Brown University, as well as an associate's degree from Frederick Community College.

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