Annual Wildland Fire and National Guard Helicopter Training set for May 1

Rapid City, S.D. – South Dakota Army National Guard (SDARNG) HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, in coordination with SD Wildland Fire (SDWF), will be conducting aerial water delivery recertification training. The annual joint training is a collaboration between SDWF and the SDARNG Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF). The SDARNG’s Black Hawks are a vital aviation asset in fighting wildfires with the capacity to drop over 500 gallons of water to targeted sites. The exercise also provides live, hands on, experience for interagency ground personnel. 

The training will include aerial water delivery practice with a live simulated fire exercise on Friday, May 1, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the west side of Angostura Reservoir near Sheps Canyon Road. Members of the public who see firefighting aircraft or ground crews conducting operations in the area are asked to stay well clear and avoid entering the exercise area so firefighters can safely complete their training.

The use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (drones) in the area is prohibited during these hours and will result in flight operations being shut down.

South Dakota Wildland Fire is an agency of the Department of Public Safety.

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