PREVIEW

Overhead view of the Pine Barrens Fire from the HC-130J Combat King II search and rescue aircraft, assigned to the 102nd Rescue Squadron based out of Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, Westhampton Beach, N.Y., March 8, 2025. Two HC-130Js performed command and control to support both air and ground firefighting efforts. The 106th Rescue Wing was the first unit to apply water to the fire during a coordinated response that ultimately included more than 80 local fire departments, additional base firefighting vehicles, an HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter, two HC-130J Combat King II aircraft, Tactical Air Control Party assigned to the wing, and three New York Army National Guard UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters assigned to A Company, 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment based out of MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, N.Y., conducting aerial firefighting operations using Bambi Buckets.