The Tennessee Army National Guard has deployed two Black Hawk helicopters to Polk County to support firefighters battling a blaze near the North Carolina border.
Two helicopters from Knoxville’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion departed for Polk County between 7:30 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. Tuesday from McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base to combat wildfires just southeast of Turtletown, military officials said in a news release. The helicopters focused on areas of rugged terrain that are proving difficult for ground firefighting crews to reach.
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The fire on Sassafras Ridge Road was last reported at 65 acres and 80% contained on Tuesday, according to the Tennessee Division of Forestry’s wildfire map.
Each helicopter is equipped with a “Bambi Bucket,” used to provide hundreds of gallons of water from nearby water sources directly to the fire, officials said. The Black Hawks are also equipped to perform other missions to support first responders as needed.
— Compiled by Ben Benton
