SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras –
Service members from Joint Task Force-Bravo began providing support to the Panamanian government, at the request of the U.S. Embassy in Panama, in a combined effort to suppress and contain a wildfire in the Darién province April 16, 2016.
Small wildfires have emerged in the areas since April 4, but have rapidly spread in the past days, becoming a threat to the surrounding villages and populace, as well as Panama Canal support infrastructure.
The fires are located in a highly inaccessible area of Panama and local response capabilities are limited, necessitating aerial support from Joint Task Force-Bravo to help suppress the fires.
JTF-Bravo is supporting the Panamanian effort with UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters, outfitted with Bambi buckets and hoist capabilities, to supplement the ongoing efforts.