In August 2019, the governors of New York and Connecticut made an agreement to join their respective National Guard forces in case of disasters.  This is called New Mutual Aid Emergency Management Inter-State Compact, and also involves state police.  No justification was given other than that the two states needed to “collaborate” for future cross-border emergencies.

2020’s pandemic-panic-attack delayed joint training for wildfires.

Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Andrew Valenza.

During the first week of May 2021, New York and Connecticut helicopter crews finally joined-up with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers, for training over the Mohawk River.

Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Andrew Valenza.

“Our procedures vary a little bit compared to what they’re used to, and there’s a lot of terminology they use we have to get used to. We have to get used to working them to develop that crew mix and synergy. One thing we learned is that our previous spot-drop techniques are often not a good course of action due to the way the rotor downwash can fan out the flames.”-Captain Forest Thrush, 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment

Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Andrew Valenza.

The Bambi bucket used by the New York/Connecticut National Guard UH-60 Blackhawks can weigh 2.8-tons when full.

U.S. Wildfire prep, 2021: ALASKA AIRBORNE RED CARD

U.S. Wildfire, 2021: SIERRA FIRE