In 2020, smoke grounded civilian aircraft as 242 people were trapped by California’s Creek Fire; National Guard crews rescued all 242 in 7 hours, the largest helicopter rescue in Guard history

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. A new mini-documentary shared by Governor Gavin’s office recounts the extraordinary nighttime mission that rescued 242 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. By Labor Day weekend, hundreds of people were fleeing for their lives as flames surrounded Mammoth Pool Reservoir. The smoke was so thick that civilian pilots couldn’t risk flying. As evening fell, the options began to narrow. The people were still there, and the fire showed no signs of calming down. Hundreds of people were stranded. Leaving fate to decide the lives of 242 people wasn’t an option the California National Guard (CalGuard) aircrews were considering. So the CalGuard crew from the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade decided to fly into the fire after dark. Their only edge? Night-vision goggles.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. Flying into the wildfire alone was risk enough; the fire and smoke only worsened it. They relied on infrared goggles and radio communication.The risk was real. The pilots had to land on a steep boat ramp with flames closing in. People waiting for rescue had severe burns. Some were so badly burned that they were unable to walk. The smoke was impossible. Even with the night-vision goggles, the crews were essentially flying into a wall. But they flew anyway.Over the next seven hours, the pilots made multiple runs through smoke-filled airspace. They got people aboard, got everyone strapped down and pulled up before the fire got any closer. There was no scope for second chances or do-overs. 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. The mission saved 242 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. It shows how they made life-or-death decisions as the fire closed in.

How the rescue opened new possibilities in nighttime wildfire response

The rescue undoubtedly became historic in California’s evolution of nighttime wildfire response. The rescue showed what was possible when specialised military aviation capabilities could operate after 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.“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. 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.The rescue team was recognised with the Distinguished Flying Cross and the California Medal of Valor for their extraordinary service.The rescue was a collective effort. 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. Teams on the ground provided critical intelligence, evacuation support, medical care and logistics as the Guard crews worked from the air.“The Creek Fire rescue showed us what’s possible when agencies unite in the face of 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. 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.“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. 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.And needless to say, the Creek Fire became a defining moment in how California approaches nighttime wildfire aviation.Since the Creek Fire in 2020, California has expanded its wildfire response 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. CAL FIRE and the California National Guard regularly train together so that military aviation can be safely integrated into wildfire operations when additional resources are needed.California has also expanded the use of advanced fire intelligence, mapping and detection tools, including ALERTCalifornia, FIRIS and the Cal Guard’s FireGuard programme, which support statewide wildfire detection, assessment and intelligence.Now they have a more connected system, with firefighters, pilots, emergency managers, military crews and technology teams working together when impossible conditions show up. And it all started with the rescue mission in 2020!