This footage was filmed and produced 7 November 2023. The Virginia National Guard (VNG) has deployed two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters equipped with 660-gallon water buckets to aid in wildfire fighting efforts in Madison County. Following Governor Glenn Youngkin's state of emergency declaration on November 6, VNG aviation crews have made 15 drops of nearly 10,000 gallons of water in the first 24 hours. The VNG's role in domestic operations is to provide additional capabilities to partner agencies to help fellow citizens in times of need. Brig. Gen. Todd H. Hubbard, the Virginia National Guard director of the joint staff, expressed his pride in how quickly and safely the aviation crews responded to assist with aerial fire suppression in Madison County. The VNG conducted water bucket training at Fort Barfoot, Virginia, in October 2023, ensuring proficiency with the equipment. The training provided currency and qualifications for three complete flight crews, capitalizing on lessons learned during firefighting operations during the unit's deployment to Kosovo in 2022. During domestic operations, the VNG receives missions from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and responds as part of a multi-agency team with other state and local agencies to provide support capabilities requested by Virginia communities.
