The Colorado Army National Guard’s Second Brigade will begin its annual training sessions this week, flying over the Denver metro area to prepare for the upcoming wildfire season.

The LUH-72 Lakota, UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook aircrews will fly over the area Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. as part of the training, dropping water on simulated fire sites and building crew proficiency in fighting fires and assisting ground forces.

“This refresher training with our partners validates the Colorado National Guard’s readiness to protect the people of Colorado during wildfire season,” said Gen. Laura Clellan, adjutant general of the brigade.

The training session, based at the Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, is in partnership with several local, state and federal organizations. Aviation assets will stage at Vance Brand Airport in Longmont for a portion of the training.

Summer wildfire season expected to be grim for southern Colorado and West Slope

Residents may notice increased military helicopter traffic near the Buckley Air Force Base, as well as near the Rocky Mountain Arsenal in Commerce City, the Chatfield and Strontia Springs Reservoirs in Littleton and the Button Rock Reservoir in Lyons.

This comes as the state is expecting another devastating wildfire season, with officials warning of above-average fire activity in southeastern Colorado through June, and a potential for large fires in southern Colorado and on the Western Slope throughout the summer.

In 2020, Colorado experienced the four largest wildfires to ever burn in the state – the Cameron Peak, East Troublesome, Mullen and Pine Gulch fires – burning a collective total of over 700,000 acres.

“The equipment our Soldiers use for warfighting increases our fire suppression capability while crews are at home,” Clellan said.

Helicopter inspector pilots with the U.S. Forest Service will fly with and certify the brigade’s aircrews to ensure they are proficient and capable of suppressing fires with precision and efficiency, officials said. 

Boulder Fire and the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control will also provide academic training at the Army Aviation Support Facility at the Buckley Air Force Base, covering fire behavior, fire shelters and airspace coordination.

Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Wyoming will send Army National Guard aircraft and crews to participate in the academic and flight training.

Numerous front-range city fire departments, civilian firefighting companies, Denver water organizations and state parks are assisting with and coordinating the training, in addition to the U.S. Forest Service and the Federal Aviation Administration.