Air Force
California Air National Guard flies first wildfire medevac standby in the HH-60W Jolly Green II at Yosemite’s Dome Fire
The 129th Rescue Wing deployed its new HH-60W to Yosemite National Park on 9 to 12 October, providing overnight medical evacuation cover for firefighters on the Dome Fire.
A California Air National Guard HH-60W Jolly Green II combat rescue helicopter has flown its first wildfire mission, standing by to evacuate injured firefighters at the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park, the 129th Rescue Wing said on 21 October.
The wing deployed the aircraft from Mariposa-Yosemite Airport on 9 to 12 October. The Dome Fire, burning near Wawona inside the park, had by then covered nearly 7,000 acres and had been burning for more than a month, according to the wing’s account. It was the first time the wing had been called out for wildfire response since the Los Angeles-area fires in early 2025.
A 12-hour overnight alert
The helicopter carried a crew of eight: two pilots, two special mission aviators and two pararescuemen, plus two maintainers. A CAL FIRE military helicopter equipment manager flew with the team. Working with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the crew held a 12-hour overnight alert, ready to hoist or evacuate firefighters if they were hurt. No evacuations were needed, and the crew used the time to practise rescue techniques and high-altitude operations.
Before the deployment, maintainers stripped out gun mounts, rear seating and other equipment to save weight and make room for a litter. The fire operations took place above 8,000 feet, while the airport sits at 2,254 feet.
Why altitude matters
Capt. Mike DeWein, a U.S. Air Force HH-60W pilot with the wing, said height and heat both cut helicopter performance. “The higher a helicopter flies, mixed with higher temperatures, decreases the amount of performance,” he said. He added that the “Whiskey” model “inherently has better performance margins, so it does operate a little bit better at altitude.”
DeWein described the mission as useful practice for domestic operations. “It’s good for us. It expands our abilities and improves our proficiency,” he said.
The 129th Rescue Wing is a California Air National Guard unit that, besides its combat rescue role, supports state emergencies. The Dome Fire was fully contained on 17 October, according to the federal InciWeb incident information system cited in the wing’s report.
