NEWS RELEASE: Hawaiʻi National Guard Supports Hawaiʻi County with Helicopters to Fight Saddle Road Fires
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2026
#2026-010
HILO — The Hawaiʻi National Guard (HING) is continuing to provide Hawaiʻi County with helicopter support to help fight the wildland fires near the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road), which began on Aug. 11, 2026. The initial request for support came in the late afternoon on August 11, and within two hours, the first water drops were made on the fires.
Yesterday, Aug. 12, 2026, the HING aviation team conducted 5.8 flight hours of fire-suppressing missions, executing 25 water bucket drops that delivered 15,398 gallons of water to the affected area.
This brings the cumulative total of HING’s aerial fire suppression efforts over the two days of support to 36 drops, 8.3 flight hours, and 22,658 gallons of water dropped. HING support has been requested to continue today, Aug. 13, 2026.
“Our UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter responded quickly to conduct aerial fire suppression water bucket drops where they were needed most,” said Hawaiʻi Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan. “The Hawaiʻi National Guard’s Operation Hoʻopauahi was utilized for the second time this wildfire season to support Hawaiʻi County.”
As of August 13, the Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency (HCCDA) reported that the wildfires had burned 230 acres and were 60% contained. The HING aviation team is actively working alongside the Hawaiʻi Fire Department, HCCDA and the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency. Additional aviation assets are postured on Oʻahu and can launch if needed to continue critical fire suppression efforts.
The rapid mobilization for the fires was made possible due to Governor Josh Green’s signing of an Emergency Proclamation on June 4, 2026, funding Operation Hoʻopauahi (meaning “to extinguish fire”). This proactive initiative keeps HING aviation assets, specifically CH-47 Chinook and UH/HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and their crews, on standby during wildfire season.
Video B-Roll: Saddle Road Fire – Media
Video Credit: Hawaiʻi Army National Guard
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Media Contact:
Retired Maj. Jeffrey D. Hickman
Director, Public Affairs
State of Hawai‘i, Department of Defense
Office: 808-441-7000
Direct: 808-779-8008
Email: [email protected]