Oregon National Guard activates troops and choppers for the Hagen Fire
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, July 29th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
SALEM – The Oregon National Guard has activated an estimated 20 service members and four helicopters to fight the Hagen Fire in Umatilla and Union counties. The choppers and troops are working out of Pendleton.
Two HH-60M Black Haws based in Salem are teaming up with two CH-47 Chinooks with Bravo Company, First Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment in Pendleton. They will use water buckets for aerial suppression. Water operations could begin as early as today (Wednesday).
The Oregon Army National Guard first activated to provide a search and rescue MEDEVAC helicopter on standby in support of the Oregon Department of Forestry’s wildfire response. That Black Hawk and crew relocated to Pendleton about a week ago and continues to provide 24/7 emergency MEDEVAC response for the region.
Lt. Col. Nathan Edgecomb, the ONG aviation officer, said the soldiers are preparing for a long fire season ahead.
“We will continue to swap out crews as necessary to stay in the fight and help our fellow Oregonians protect life and property,” he said.
National Guard file photo by Maj. Leslie Reed, Oregon Department of Public Affairs: A Black Hawk helicopter empties a water bucket onto flames near Paisley in 2020.
