70 Fires, 164 passengers, two words. USFS Highlights Grande Ronde Rappellers
By Garrett Christensen on Wednesday, October 14th, 2026 in Northeastern Oregon News Northeastern Oregon Top Stories
LA GRANDE – As fire season continues to wind down, the U.S. Forest Service Wallowa Whitman National Forest has continued to provide updates on remaining large fires in the region, post prescribed burns notices, and share behind the scenes information of the crews and equipment that went above and beyond during the 2026 fire season, and the many records they broke this year.
Most recently, the USFS provided an extensive highlight of the Grande Ronde Rappellers and the extensive work they accomplished during the latest season. Based in La Grande and sponsored by the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, the 40-person crew is on the frontlines of wildfires across the Pacific Northwest and beyond, delivering firefighters, water, and critical cargo to remote locations in support of fire attack and containment operations.
The full season recap for the Grande Ronde Rappellers, as recently posted by the Wallowa Whitman National Forest, is as follows:
(Release from the U.S. Forest Service Wallowa Whitman National Forest)
Grande Ronde Rappellers – 2026 Season Recap:
The Grande Ronde Rappellers wrapped up another busy season as one of the nation’s premier aerial firefighting resources. Based in La Grande, Oregon, the 40-person crew is sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service’s Wallowa-Whitman National Forest and specializes in rapid initial attack on remote, difficult-to-access fires.
Using helicopters to deliver firefighters directly to or near incidents, the crew can deploy four-person modules capable of operating independently for up to 72 hours.
A Season of Aviation and Initial Attack:
This season, the Grande Ronde Rappellers staffed nearly 70 fires across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California, Utah, Colorado and Montana.
Flying two medium helicopters, the crew conducted initial attack on 60 fires, completed 35 extended-attack actions and inserted 164 firefighters. The aircraft flew a combined 360 hours, delivering approximately 100,000 gallons of water and transporting more than 40,000 pounds of cargo.
The crew also supported a Type 1 Sikorsky Skycrane, which flew approximately 260 hours and delivered 1.2 million gallons of water across 27 incidents.
Beyond fire response, the crew managed five helibases, oversaw nine Call When Needed (CWN) aircraft and completed 13 taskbooks, building leadership and operational capacity within the program.
The value of rapid aerial response was also evident during the recent initial attack on the remote Little Eagle Meadows Fire. The Grande Ronde Rappellers played a crucial role in keeping the fire small, limiting it to just 2 acres.
A Legacy of Aerial Firefighting:
Formed in 2017 through the consolidation of the Frazier Rappel Crew from the Umatilla National Forest and the Sled Springs Rappel Crew from the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Grande Ronde continues a long tradition of aerial firefighting in northeast Oregon. The Wallowa-Whitman operated a rappel crew in La Grande from 1972 to 1979 before re-establishing the program at Sled Springs in 1992.
Today, the crew staffs two Bell medium rappel helicopters and supports Type 1 Aircrane operations. While initial attack remains its primary mission, the team also supports large fires, search and rescue, prescribed fire and other specialized assignments.
Expanding the Mission:
This season brought increased involvement in large-fire operations, with Incident Management Teams repeatedly assigning rappellers to remote, challenging divisions. Working in groups of four or eight on complex incidents pushed crew members to apply their skills in new ways while maintaining the independence and adaptability that define the program.
A season highlight came during a late-August lightning bust in Montana, when the crew staffed seven fires in just a few days. Approximately 12 rappellers rotated between incidents, sometimes moving directly from one fire to the next. The team also supported nearby operations with water drops, cargo transport, reconnaissance and crew shuttles.
For the rappellers, though, one of the most exciting moments of any season remains hearing two words over the loudspeaker: “First Load.”
Challenges and Losses:
The 2026 season also brought tragedy to the wildland fire aviation community. The Knowles Fire in Colorado claimed the lives of people known to and respected by crew members, while two rappel pilots were lost in the Dome Fire in California. Closer to home, two aviation vendors based in La Grande lost sister ships during bucket operations.
These losses served as a sobering reminder of the risks of wildland firefighting and the close bonds shared across the fire community.
Looking Ahead:
The Grande Ronde Rappellers continue to grow as a national resource while staying focused on their core mission: getting highly trained firefighters on the ground quickly, wherever they are needed.
Behind the season’s 60 initial-attack fires, 35 extended-attack actions and hundreds of flight hours is a dedicated team ready to respond when the call comes.
And sometimes, the season’s most exciting moment still begins with two simple words over the loudspeaker:
“First Load.”
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(Image originally posted by the Wallowa Whitman National Forest)
