Fire, rain, and initial attack in NJ

Last week, the two Air Tractor 602's on contract with the NJ Forest Fire Service, Bravo 1 (through May 6) and Charlie 1 (through May 7) continued to fly initial attack on smaller fires. According to my friends at My friends at Downstown Aero, most of these smaller fires required only one drop, but one or maybe required two drops.

 I did read about one six-acre fire in Howell Township (NJFFS Division B Section 8) on the NJFFS Section B10 website where Bravo 1 was reported to make multiple drops. Another fire where SEAT and NJFFS firefighters worked together to contain a fire but it could grow larger and get out of control.

Of course, Bravo 1 and Charlie 1 have been flying initial attack since they went on contract in late March. One or both worked larger fires as well such as two fires that I wrote here and here. And all this while there counterparts in Division A, Alpha 2 and Alpha 3 (Ag Cats) were flying initial attack in Division A (northern NJ).

There was a very nice article by Star Ledger Columnist Mark Di Ionno, After extremely dry spring, fire in Pine Barrens is inevitable truth in the Sunday (April 22, 2012) Star Ledger. The focus of the article is about the dry conditions in NJ and the high fire danger: The fire is coming. It’s not a matter of "if" but "when." This weekend’s forecasted rain may delay it, but the water will run quickly through the soil, and the Pine Barrens will dry out again underfoot in just a few days, or even hours if temperatures spike again. And, eventually, there will be a fire. In addition will learn more about the fire ecology of the Nj Pine Barrens and a little about the NJ Forest Fire Service with 80 full time and 1,200 part-time firefighters. Di Inno's article includes a great photo gallery by photographer Andrew Mills. It is worth checking out for the pictures of the site of a recent fire, one of the NJFFS towers, NJFFS engines, and Bravo 1 (Air Tractor 602).

Thanks to some rain that we had yesterday (April 22) as well as snow in western PA -- go here and here to read about rain and snow in western PA -- the fire danger is less than it was. But a return to higher temperatures and dry weather will change that.

Thanks to Firebomber Publications Blog for April 23, 2012 for references to the articles that I mentioned here. In addition, while I read the NJ article in my local paper yesterday, I'd like to thank a friend of mine who sent me the link.