Expand / Collapse search
☰

Minnesota 'helitack' crew sent to fight western wildfires

By
Published  July 13, 2025 1:22pm CDT
Minnesota DNR
FOX 9
article

Photos from shared by the Minnesota Incident Command System shows the helicopter and crew sent to assist with fighting the western wildfires.  (Supplied)

The Brief

    • The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced a five-person helitack crew will assist in fighting the western wildfires.
    • The crew is trained to provide bucket drops on wildfires, reconnaissance, and can also fly in fire personnel and gear to remote locations.
    • The helitack module will initially be pre-positioned in Lewiston, Idaho. 

LEWISTON, Ida. (FOX 9) - Firefighters from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources formed a helitack crew to assist in the fight against wildfires in the western part of the country. 

A helitack crew is a team of firefighters transported by helicopter to fight wildfires. 

Minnesota helitack crew fighting wildfires 

Big picture view:

Officials from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced on Friday that a Minnesota helitack module en route to Lewiston, Idaho, accompanied by a five-person crew, will help in the fight against western wildfires. 

The crew is trained to provide initial attack and bucket drops on wildfires, fly reconnaissance and can also fly in personnel and gear to remote locations. 

DNR officials say the helicopter is a Type 3 Bell 206L4. 

The Source: This story uses information shared in a social media post from the Minnesota Incident Command System. 

Minnesota DNRWildfires