Army, Navy, and Coast Guard Units Deploy to Islands

As blazes burn out of control and losses of life, property, and security continue to mount on the characteristically idyllic Island of Maui, the United States Department of Defense (DoD) has mobilized active-duty and reserve military helicopter crews under numerous commands to support firefighting operations across the embattled Hawaiian Islands.

The fires sparked to life and have intensified as a function of low-humidity and hurricane winds as high as sixty-miles-per-hour generated by Hurricane Dora. A number of Maui residents caught off-guard by the rapidity of the fires’ advances survived by diving into the Pacific Ocean as their locales were engulfed.

Resourcefulness notwithstanding, over 90 fire-related deaths have been reported to date

The U.S. Army’s 25th Combat Aviation Brigade deployed two UH-60 Blackhawks and one CH-47 Chinook helicopter to Hawaii's Big Island to conduct firefighting operations. Furthermore, Navy Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 37 dispatched MH-60R Seahawk helicopters to assist U.S. Coast Guard search-and-rescue efforts—which have seen the deployment of numerous air assets to Maui.

On Thursday, 10 August, the crew of a Maui-based Coast Guard 45-foot response vessel assisted state and local first-responders in rescuing 14 individuals from the waters off the island's coast.

The National Guard, too, has activated some 134 troops—to include 99 Army National Guard personnel and 35 Air National Guard personnel—to support ongoing local and federal wildfire response efforts across the islands. The aforementioned will provide liaison support to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and render aid to local law enforcement agencies.

On Wednesday, 09 August, Guardsmen completed 58 aerial water drops of more than 100,000-gallons of water in a matter of five-hours.

Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brigadier General Pat Ryder set forth during a press briefing: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Maui at this time, and the department will continue to work closely with the state of Hawaii and officials there as we work together to protect lives and battle these terrible wildfires."

FMI: www.defense.gov