Maryland Army Guard helicopters help control brush fires at Aberdeen Proving Ground

By Capt. Dylan Bradford

ABERDEEN, Md. — The Maryland Army National Guard provided aerial firefighting support from November 2-8, 2024, to combat brush fires at Aberdeen Proving Ground as dry, windy conditions fueled wildfires across the state.

Over four non-consecutive days, two UH-60 Black Hawks, each carrying a 660-gallon water bucket, and one CH-47 Chinook, capable of delivering up to 1,800 gallons per drop, worked to extinguish the fires. One UH-72 Lakota utilized its thermal capabilities to spot isolated fires in difficult conditions. Together, the helicopters completed 219 water drops over 26 flight hours, delivering more than 205,480 gallons to suppress flare-ups and extinguish hot spots in coordination with Aberdeen Proving Ground Fire and Emergency Services.

“Our flight crews truly gave their all during this operation,” said Maryland Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 3 Teri Thomas, aviation standardization pilot with the 29th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade. “As tenants of the facility, it’s our duty to protect the well-being of the base and its people, and we’re honored to work alongside our federal partners.”

Smoke from the fires was visible across Harford and Cecil counties, prompting a Code Orange air quality alert to advise sensitive groups to limit outdoor activities. However, Aberdeen Proving Ground officials said the fires posed no threat to nearby communities despite the dry conditions.

“We trained for this, and we’re constantly preparing for these kinds of emergencies,” said Maryland Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Christopher Raynor, a standardization instructor with the 1-224th Security and Support Battalion. “Getting water on target was our priority, we were in the air within an hour of getting the call.”

Maryland faced an above-average number of wildfires. Since Oct. 1, the state has recorded more than 24 wildfires burning 75 acres, exceeding the 10-year average of seven fires and 21 acres for October.

“Our response demonstrates the professionalism and adaptability of our Soldiers,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Patrick Metzger, command sergeant major of the Maryland Army National Guard. “Their ability to integrate with our federal partners and leverage our resources ensured we safeguarded the installation and reinforced our commitment to the safety of Maryland’s communities.”