Armenia deploys military helicopter, 1,500 responders for major wildfire

Armenia has launched a major multi-agency wildfire response in the country’s northeastern Tavush Province, where crews are now in their sixth day battling fast-moving fires across steep, drought-stricken terrain.

The wildfire, which ignited on 21 November in grassland between the villages of Chambarak and Ttujur, quickly advanced over rugged hillsides, triggering a large-scale special mission involving national emergency services, defense assets, and aerial support.

By Monday, Armenian authorities reported 343 firefighters engaged in frontline operations, backed by an expanding suite of aerial reconnaissance and suppression capabilities. Uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) are providing continuous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) coverage over the burn area, while a military helicopter has conducted 23 waterbombing sorties, targeting hotspots that ground teams have struggled to access on foot, according to local news outlet OC Media.

In total, close to 1,500 responders – including firefighters, rescue specialists, defense personnel, eco-patrol officers, and local volunteers – have taken part since the start of the operation. Officials say complex geography and shifting winds have forced commanders to request reinforcements from neighboring regions, with teams rotating through 24/7 deployments.

Parallel fires reported near Dilijan and the village of Navur prompted additional tasking for emergency crews. OC Media reported that more than 300 personnel were working to keep flames from encroaching on the forested buffer zones surrounding Dilijan National Park, one of Armenia’s most sensitive ecological areas.

A forward command post has been established to coordinate aerial drops, UAS flights, and ground-team movements across multiple fire fronts. Authorities continue to urge residents and tourists to avoid the area while the situation remains dynamic, with flare-ups still occurring along steep and heavily vegetated slopes.

Officials say updates will continue as air and ground crews assess the fire perimeter, monitor weather patterns, and plan further suppression missions in the days ahead.

Česká letecká servisní (ČLS) and partners recently announced they would be helping to modernize aerial firefighting in the Czech Republic with up to three new Firehawk helicopters.