The U.S. Forest Service opened an on-ramp opportunity for Type 3 helicopter support to aid in the protection of public lands.

U.S. military helicopters on Tuesday plucked dozens more campers, hikers and locals from the path of a raging California wildfire, with one pilot describing conditions as more dangerous than combat.

Helicopters rescued 23 hikers and three dogs from San Juan National Forest in the latest in a series of wildfires burning across Colorado and the U.S. West, officials said on Tuesday.