Coulson Aviation's New Aircraft for Lead and AirAttack

I was excited to see Coulson Aviation's April 7th Facebook post announcing that they have purchased five Citation aircraft from Canada for their Lead and Air Attack program. I enjoyed watching Coulson's video where I learned more about Coulson's new Citation aircraft. 

SEAT Training in SE Texas for Upcoming Wildfire Season

 

  Direct link to April 3rd video from KFDM News on YouTube

Annual training for current and new pilots and their aircraft who will engage in wildland firefighting over the coming wildfire season is occurring around the country. The pilots of SEATs (single engine aircraft) that will engage in fighting wildfires in southeast is going on at a small airport in Winnie in southeast Texas. Enjoy the video from KFDM News reporting on SEAT training 

At ARC Aviation in Winnie, crews are training and gearing up single-engine air tankers, known as SEAT aircraft, to respond quickly when flames break out. The pilots are being put through training exercises designed to simulate real fire conditions as the company prepares for what it expects could be a dangerous season. “We're doing pilot of the evaluation and check rides and training. We're getting ready for a pretty intense Fire season coming up due to the high drought levels and high temperature, record temperatures,” said Andrew Mitchell, CEO of ARC Aviation of Texas. 

Obtained on April 6th from https://kfdm.com/news/local/winnie-airport-trains-seat-air-tankers-as-southeast-texas-wildfire-season-ramps-up

Friday Fun: Review of Aerial Firefighting Missions in a Lockheed P2V (2015 to 2017)

Direct link to 2022 video from Bob Web on YouTube

I hope you enjoy this video from Bob Webb (air tanker pilot) of aerial fire bombing missions in 2015 to 2017. I have a special place for Lockheed P2V's as this was one of the first air tankers I learned about when I devoted this blog to aerial firefighting. It is possible that I shared this video earlier but it doesn't hurt to share it again.

NJ Forest Fire Service Update for March 31st: Prescribed Burns and Wildfire Contained

 

 

There were a few wildfires that burned on March 31st in Jackson Township (Burlington County. The fires were contained yesterday and I assume that the portion of I 195 that was still closed at the time the NJ Forest Fire Service posted the above update on their Facebook page is now reopened, at least I saw no signs of a closure when I checked this morning.

 

As you can see from the above Facebook post, the NJ Forest Fire did more prescribed burns in multiple locations in Sussex County NJ yesterday. As I understand it, yesterday (March 31st) was the last day the NJ Forest Fire Service can do prescribed burns

First New Fire Tower in New Jersey in 78 Years

Direct link to March 25th video from the NJ Forest Fire Service on YouTube

 

Direct link to March 25th video from PIX 11 News on YouTube

There s a new fire tower known as the Veterans Fire Tower  in Jackson New Jersey that was dedicated on March 25th. This fire tower replaces a decommissioned fire tower in Lakewood NJ. This is the first new fire tower in New Jersey in 78 years.  I do not go to the New Jersey shore as frequently as I used to but I am fairly certain that I had driven by the old Lakewood fire tower. I had heard that the Lakewood Fire Tower was being decommissioned and am glad to be able to report on the new Veterans Fire Tower. As a New Jersey resident who follows wildfire activity I know that important work that observers in fire towers to detect wildfires and then report them to the NJ Forest Fire Service who will then deploy wildland firefighters to work the wildfire. Many but not all of these wildfires can be contained while they are still small. To read more about the Veterans Fire Tower, the importance of fire towers and prescribed burning operations go to this March 25th press release from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection

Friday Fun: Dancing Airplanes

Direct link to video posted by Captain Bernoulli in December 2020 on YouTube

I wanted to share a funny airplane video for this week's Friday Fun. I remembered seeing the video that I shared here on YouTube awhile back and it fit the bill. I know that airplanes can not really dance in the way shown in this video, that is not the point. The point is that this video made me smile and giggle. I hope you enjoy this video

New Jersey Forest Fire Service: Prescribed Burning March 25

Obtained on March 25th from https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19DAFRnBog/

With the exception of Monday March 23rd when the weather was not conducive for prescribed burns the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has continued with prescribed burns in thirteen of twenty-one counties in New Jersey (Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren Counties). As I understand, weather permitting, prescribed burns will continue through the end of the month.

Obtained on March 25th from http://wildfire.nj.gov

 

1st Female Fire Observer for the New Jersey Forest Fire Service

As some of you know, I have an interest in the role of women in fighting wildfires and as well as providing support services for wildfires. I was especially interested when I came across a Facebook post by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service about Julia Cramer, the first female fire observer for the New Jersey Forest Fire Service in 1921, she was nineteen years of age and served in the Batso Fire Tower in what is now the Wharton State Forest in the New Jersey Pinelands. I applaud Julia for her service and for being one of early women working for the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.  

Friday Fun: Women in Aviation at Coulson Aviation

Direct link to February 2026 video from Coulson Aviation on YouTube

I think that women are playing an increasing role in fire aviation as demonstrated by the video from Coulson Aviation that they recently shared on Facebook. I am always happy to see videos and images highlighting women's role in fire aviation. I believe that Coulson may have shared this video to honor women in aviation week a few weeks ago.

New Jersey Forest Fire Service: Prescribed Burning Continues

Obtained on March 18th from https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/NJDEP/bulletins/40eddca

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service continues with prescribed burning today, March 18th in Burlington, Monmouth, and Ocean Counties. 

Obtained on March 18th from https://dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/wildfire/prescribed-fire-notifications/

For current information from the NJ Forest Fire Service about wildfires go to https://dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/wildfire/