PJ Helicopters deployed a Bell 407 helicopter and crew alongside a PG&E Black Hawk to the Castle Peak avalanche site near Truckee, California on February 20, 2026, to support avalanche mitigation efforts ahead of search and recovery operations.

Operating in coordination with Pacific Gas & Electric and the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, crews used bambi buckets to deliver water drops designed to intentionally trigger avalanches and release unstable snowpack, reducing the risk of uncontrolled slides before ground teams moved in to recover the nine victims of the February 17 avalanche.

The bambi bucket, a collapsible container suspended beneath a helicopter, is a standard tool in wildland firefighting. In this operation, crews used the 900-gallon bucket to drop water onto dangerous snow formations, deliberately triggering controlled slides to clear hazards for search and rescue personnel. It was an unconventional application of firefighting equipment adapted to an urgent and complex mountain rescue scenario.

“Our crew was honored to support this effort and help bring closure to the families affected by this tragedy,” said Dave McCammon, President of PJ Helicopters. “When the call came in, our team was ready to help however they could.”

Multiple agencies contributed to the recovery operation, including the California Highway Patrol, California National Guard, and Nevada and Placer County search and rescue teams.

PJ Helicopters maintains year-round operational readiness across multiple mission profiles, including utility construction, heavy lift, aerial firefighting, and emergency response from regional bases nationwide.