Nevada National Guard Mobilizes for Rapid Wildfire Response Near Reno

The Nevada National Guard … while deploying Air Guard units to support ongoing firefighting operations in Oregon. Emerson Marcus of the Joint Force Headquarters, the state-level emergency response successfully protected thousands of homes following evacuations affecting over 13,000 residents.

North Valleys Fires Threaten Reno Suburbs

The early August blazes struck the valleys just north of Reno with an intensity that drew immediate comparisons to the Davis Fire of 2024. State emergencies were declared for both events, prompting a federal incident command team to deploy to the region. Last week’s Bug, Stallion, and Fred Mountain fires triggered mass evacuations for over 13,000 residents, placing tens of thousands of others on immediate alert.

Eleven structures were ultimately lost, but fire predictions initially forecast a far more catastrophic outcome following the fires’ ignition on August 9. Col. Kyle Cerfoglio, the Nevada Joint Staff Director whose own home sat in Washoe County’s get-ready-to-evacuate zone, emphasized the narrow margin of safety. “There’s no doubt this fire would have been much worse had it not been for the quick and rapid response from first responders around the region,” Cerfoglio stated, noting that the flames came dangerously close to numerous residential properties.

By Wednesday, the Bug Fire reached 94 percent containment after burning 93,733 acres, while the Stallion Fire reached 95 percent containment across 40,691 acres. Despite these containment milestones, threat levels remain elevated across the western United States.

Aviation Assets Deliver Hundreds of Thousands of Gallons

Nevada Army National Guard aviation assets played a pivotal role in suppressing the advance of the flames. Operations began weeks earlier when CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk aircrews were activated on July 26 for the Secret Pass Fire east of Elko. Those crews were almost immediately diverted 150 miles south to Ely to combat the Ward Fire, which threatened the White Pine County capital near Great Basin National Park.

For a full week, two aircraft and their crews dropped 174 Bambi buckets and 150,000 gallons of water on the Ward Fire. Chief Warrant Officer 4 Scott Taylor, a UH-60 Black Hawk pilot, described the intensive mop-up operations. “There were a lot of hot spots, and they had all helicopters up and running to put those out,” Taylor said on August 4, adding that helicopter crews made a massive impact on containment.

As containment on the Ward Fire crossed 30 percent, Army aviators returned home just as the Bug Fire broke out near their base. Operating out of the Nevada Army Aviation Support Facility in Stead, a total of five Army Guard helicopters were deployed following Gov. Joe Lombardo’s August 10 state of emergency declaration. Over the course of a week, Army Aviation dropped 277 water buckets, accounting for an estimated 328,591 gallons of water. Mother Nature provided critical assistance on August 12 with afternoon rain and cooler temperatures.

Operating heavy aircraft in smoky, congested airspace required extreme precision. “It is fairly dangerous flying,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Scott Hermansen, a Chinook pilot. “We have a pretty heavy bucket below us… it is flying the helicopter for us. And there is a lot of metal in the sky, lots of tankers, lots of helicopters, so you always have to keep your head on a swivel.”

Security Forces and Air Guard Transitions

As evacuation orders emptied local neighborhoods, the Nevada National Guard Response Force (NGRF) deployed approximately 50 soldiers to safeguard communities from potential looting. Personnel manned checkpoints at seven distinct locations around the perimeter of the fires, working alongside increased patrols from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.

With local operations winding down, the focus shifted outward. On Wednesday, a Nevada Air National Guard C-130 aircraft and supporting Airmen deployed to the Klamath Falls Airtanker Base in Oregon. There, they integrated with personnel from the 302nd Airlift Wing of the U.S. Air Force Reserves out of Colorado Springs, Colorado, utilizing the U.S. Forest Service’s Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS).

Property owners and local businesses impacted by structural threats or evacuations often face complex recovery phases. Engaging certified is a critical step for structural safety assessments and debris removal, while commercial entities frequently consult to manage property loss claims effectively.

“The Nevada Air National Guard still has a contingent of aircrews deployed to U.S. Central Command and at various locations around the world, but remains ready and willing for the call with able aircrew at a moment’s notice here in defense of the nation,” Cerfoglio said. “This is just another example of how the fires near Reno may have subsided, but they continue to pose threats around the western United States.”

As the regional threat level evolves, communities across the West continue to rely on the rapid deployment of integrated military and civilian assets to mitigate the expanding duration and severity of modern wildfire seasons.