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Capt. Colby Thomason, Oklahoma National Guard wildland firefighting program, takes part in a burnout operation during wildland firefighting near Talihina, Oklahoma, Feb. 25, 2026. Two eight-Guardsmen crews have been deployed to support the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Oklahoma Department of Public Safety and Oklahoma Forestry Services battle wild fires in the state. The Oklahoma National Guard Wildland Firefighting Program has more than 80 red-card certified Guardsmen trained to support federal, state and local agencies in combating fires. (photo provided by OKNG Wildland Firefighting Program)
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Oklahoma National Guard wildland firefighters conduct firefighting operations near Talihinia, Oklahoma, Feb. 25, 2026. Two eight-Guardsmen crews have been deployed to support the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, and the Oklahoma Forestry Services in battling wildfires in the state. The Oklahoma National Guard Wildland Firefighting Program has more than 80 red-card-certified Guardsmen trained to support federal, state, and local agencies in combating fires.
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Oklahoma National Guard wildland firefighters conduct firefighting operations near Talihinia, Oklahoma, Feb. 25, 2026. Two eight-Guardsmen crews have been deployed to support the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, and the Oklahoma Forestry Services in battling wildfires in the state. The Oklahoma National Guard Wildland Firefighting Program has more than 80 red-card-certified Guardsmen trained to support federal, state, and local agencies in combating fires.
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An Oklahoma National Guard wildland firefighter conducts firefighting operations near Talihinia, Oklahoma, Feb. 25, 2026. Two eight-Guardsmen crews have been deployed to support the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, and the Oklahoma Forestry Services in battling wildfires in the state. The Oklahoma National Guard Wildland Firefighting Program has more than 80 red-card-certified Guardsmen trained to support federal, state, and local agencies in combating fires.
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Oklahoma National Guard wildland firefighters conduct firefighting operations near Talihinia, Oklahoma, Feb. 25, 2026. Two eight-Guardsmen crews have been deployed to support the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, and the Oklahoma Forestry Services in battling wildfires in the state. The Oklahoma National Guard Wildland Firefighting Program has more than 80 red-card-certified Guardsmen trained to support federal, state, and local agencies in combating fires.
(Photo Credit: Courtesy)VIEW ORIGINAL
OKLAHOMA CITY — At the request of Oklahoma Emergency Management and with authorization from Gov. Kevin Stitt, members of the Oklahoma Army National Guard are responding to wildfires in northwest Oklahoma using UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and ground hand crews.
“The Oklahoma National Guard stands ready and equipped with both aerial and ground capabilities to support our partner agencies across the state,” said Brig. Gen. Bob Walter, assistant adjutant general for Oklahoma. “We have been in continuous communication with the Office of Emergency Management, the Department of Public Safety and Forestry Services to ensure close coordination.”
The buckets used by Oklahoma Army National Guard helicopter crews hold up to 660 gallons of water and can be dropped directly on fires or in areas where incident commanders and firefighters are working to prevent further spread. In addition to aerial support, the Oklahoma National Guard is providing ground support.
“We have two wildland firefighting crews of eight to ten red-card-certified firefighters on state active duty working under the incident command,” Walter said.
In the past two years, the Oklahoma National Guard Wildland Firefighting Program has trained 130 red-card-certified Guardsmen and currently has 80 certified and available within the state.
Once a request for support is submitted through Oklahoma Emergency Management and approved by the governor, planners with the Oklahoma National Guard’s Domestic Operations Office work with local incident commanders to develop a plan to best support firefighting operations.
“I’m very thankful for the National Guard and the expertise they bring to this response,” said Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur. “We appreciate the opportunity to work collaboratively with them.”
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