MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Hawaii -- Helicopters based here assisted fire-fighting agencies from state and federal agencies August 14 and 15 after a fire erupted around Schofield Barracks on Northern Oahu.
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 used their CH-53D “Sea Stallion” helicopters with attached water buckets to support other Federal units in getting the fire under control on federal grounds.
“We launched aircraft on both Tuesday and Wednesday to help fight the fire,” said Capt. Joe Elseroad, pilot, HMH-363. “The fire was locate south of Wailua, in and around Schofield.”
“We used a fire bucket that can hold up to 435 gallons of water,” Elseroad said. “We picked up water from the lake, and as we passed over the fire, we poured the water.”
They completed numerous drops during the 22.9 hours their helicopters flew over the fires.
“We had one helicopter on Tuesday that made over 70 drops in the 8.4 hours it flew, and 2 helicopters on Wednesday that made over 120 drops in their 14.5 hour total,” Elseroad said.
While the combined effort of both HMH-363, and Army fire fighters handled the fire on Federal government grounds, local and state fire fighters handled the fire outside of Federal grounds.
“It was a combined effort by the Honolulu Fire Department, state and Federal assets to get the fire under control,” Elseroad said.
Although the fire looks to be contained and diminishing, HMH-363 is standing by in case it flares up again.
“We will go out there again,” Elseroad said. “It looks like the fire is under control, but we are standing by in case we are needed again.”