A few months ago I wrote this post that I called Reflections on S-2T's, SEAT's and Initial Attack. I was speaking to the important work that CAL Fire's S-2T's and SEAT's on National or State/local contracts do to aid ground crews in putting out fires during the first hours after the fire is reported (aka initial attack). I need to add that helicopters, both those with buckets and well as type II helicopters with fixed tanks play an important roll in fighting fires in the initial attack phase.
I have written about specific large fires including campaign fires such as the Station Fire, but have not written much about these two to ten acres fires. So, I have been on the lookout for video footage of a such a fire, one that was contained within the first two to three hours. Earlier this week, there was a 10 acre brush fire in San Marcos, CA just north of San Diego (of unknown origin) that seemed to have been "knocked out" in under two hours. Helicopters and CAL FIRE S-2T's added ground crews in these efforts. I found out about this fire here, following the supplied link to this video footage shot from a San Diego's CBS8 news helicopter.
The video is just over 16 minutes. You will see several water/foam drops from what appears to be a fixed-tank type II helicopter. I saw a shot of a CAL Fire S-2T, tanker 88 fly by but did not see the drop (although I could of missed something). There are also shots of ground crews and engines working the fire.
I have blogged about aerial wildland firefighting since 2009. I am not a firefighter and am not a pilot, just an interested bystander who wants to learn more and share what I learn here. Join me here as I blog on the aircraft and the pilots who fight wildland fires from the air in support of crews on the ground. I also blog on concerns affecting fire crews on the ground as well as other aviation and meteorology issues. Learn what it takes to do jobs that are staffed by the best of the best.
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