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· collected 2026-09-06 · by TOI World Desk
It’s been six years since the Creek Fire rescue changed nighttime firefighting forever, after California National Guard crews flew into a wall of fire and smoke in the largest helicopter rescue in Guard history and saved all of them in seven hours.
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crews → change → hours
A new mini-documentary shared by Governor Gavin’s office recounts the extraordinary nighttime mission that rescued 242 people.
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that → share → people
The extraordinary nighttime rescue
It started on September 4, 2020, in the Sierra National Forest and burned with the kind of speed that leaves no time for evacuation protocols.
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that → start → protocols
By Labor Day weekend, hundreds of people were fleeing for their lives as flames surrounded Mammoth Pool Reservoir.
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flames → flee → Reservoir
The smoke was so thick that civilian pilots couldn’t risk flying.
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pilots → risk → flying
As evening fell, the options began to narrow.
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options → fall → ?
The people were still there, and the fire showed no signs of calming down.
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fire → show → signs
Hundreds of people were stranded.
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Hundreds → strand → people
Leaving fate to decide the lives of 242 people wasn’t an option the California National Guard (CalGuard) aircrews were considering.
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aircrews → leave → people
So the CalGuard crew from the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade decided to fly into the fire after dark.
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crew → decide → dark
CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk crews suited up and prepared for what no one had seriously attempted before: flying combat helicopters into an active wildfire zone at night.
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one → suit → night
Flying into the wildfire alone was risk enough; the fire and smoke only worsened it.
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fire → fly → it
They relied on infrared goggles and radio communication.
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They → rely → goggles
The pilots had to land on a steep boat ramp with flames closing in.
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flames → have → ramp
People waiting for rescue had severe burns.
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People → wait → burns
Some were so badly burned that they were unable to walk.
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they → burn → ?
Even with the night-vision goggles, the crews were essentially flying into a wall.
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crews → fly → wall
But they flew anyway.
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they → fly → ?
Over the next seven hours, the pilots made multiple runs through smoke-filled airspace.
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pilots → make → airspace
They got people aboard, got everyone strapped down and pulled up before the fire got any closer.
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fire → get → people
With no room for errors, the crew stuck to its discipline and training, and moved fast enough and steadily enough to pull it off in the dark.
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crew → stick → dark
The mission saved 242 lives.
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mission → save → lives
A mini-documentary, ‘Beyond the Limits: Creek Fire Rescue’, was released, which tells the story of the rescue through the eyes of the pilots and flight crews who carried out the mission.
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who → release → mission
It shows how they made life-or-death decisions as the fire closed in.
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fire → show → decisions
How the rescue opened new possibilities in nighttime wildfire response
The rescue undoubtedly became historic in California’s evolution of nighttime wildfire response.
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rescue → open → response
The rescue showed what was possible when specialised military aviation capabilities could operate after dark.
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capabilities → show → dark
Today, California continues to expand nighttime aviation capabilities, training CAL FIRE and Cal Guard crews who work together around the clock when wildfires threaten communities.
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wildfires → continue → communities
“I am proud of the dedicated service members of the California National Guard, who humbly serve alongside our interagency partners in the fight against wildfires.
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who → serve → wildfires
Together, through coordination and shared purpose, we support those leading the response to protect our communities,” CalGuard Major General Matthew Beevers said in a statement.
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Beevers → support → statement
The rescue team was recognised with the Distinguished Flying Cross and the California Medal of Valor for their extraordinary service.
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team → recognise → service
The Cal Guard aircrews worked alongside CAL FIRE, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), local fire departments, law enforcement, emergency medical providers and other partners on the ground to coordinate intelligence, evacuations, medical care and logistics.
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aircrews → work → intelligence
Teams on the ground provided critical intelligence, evacuation support, medical care and logistics as the Guard crews worked from the air.
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crews → provide → air
"The Creek Fire rescue showed us what's possible when agencies unite in the face of crisis.
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agencies → show → crisis
The collaboration between CAL FIRE, the California National Guard, Cal OES, local responders, and countless partners was more than a coordinated effort—it was a testament to the power of partnership.
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it → coordinate → partnership
Our ongoing commitment to training, innovation, and teamwork ensures that when Californians need us most, we stand ready—stronger together," CAL FIRE Chief Deputy Director of Operations Anale Burlew said.
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Burlew → ensure → Operations
"California's first responders and emergency managers answer the call to serve their communities every day, often stepping forward during the most difficult and dangerous moments.
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responders → answer → moments
Cal OES is proud to have supported the heroic actions of the California National Guard aircrews during the Creek Fire by coordinating across agencies and disciplines, so they had the support they needed to protect lives, safeguard communities, and keep Californians safe when it mattered most," Cal OES Director Caroline Thomas Jacobs added.
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Jacobs → support → Californians
And needless to say, the Creek Fire became a defining moment in how California approaches nighttime wildfire aviation.
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California → say → aviation
Since the Creek Fire in 2020, California has expanded its wildfire response capabilities.
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California → expand → capabilities
CAL FIRE now operates aircraft with nighttime capability, including a fleet of 17 S-70i Fire Hawk helicopters, eight exclusive-use contracted air tankers and two additional night-flying coordination helicopters.
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FIRE → operate → helicopters
…and 4 more, not listed.
