Montana Wildfires - update

Delphia Fire (MT): fire whirl ( KTVQ Q2 Billings MT)



Pine Creek Fire (MT): photo montage ( KTVQ Q2 Billings MT)

I have been reading about some of the wildfires currently burning in Montana over the last couple of days and have pulled together some information for you. Stay safe everyone!

Some wildfires currently burning in Montana

• Pine Creek Fire - 12,000 acres
• 19 Mile Fire - 4,000 acres, 2% containment
• Delphia Fire - 40,653 acresr, 95% containment
• Millie Fire - 9,500 acres
• West Garceau Fire - 9,863 acres, 85% containment
• Elbow Pass Fire - 20,414 acres, no containment, low growth potential
• Mustang Complex Fires (ID and MT) - 205,481 acres, 15% containment
• InciWeb - Montana Page

Reports on Montana Wildfires

• Montana Governor declares state of emergency (8/30/12) due to wildfire activity
• AP video: wildfires on remote Cheyenne Reservation in Montana
• Missoulian dot com: eyewitness account of pine creek fire
• Missoulian dot com: Mustang Complex Fire (ID) advances into Montana
• KXLF report on 19 Mile Fire
• Wildfiretoday on Montana Wildfires (8/31/12)
• CBS News: Summary of Montana Fires (8/31/12)

Philippine Mars going to a new home

No doubt some of you have already heard that Coulson is retiring the Philippine Mars. From what I understand she had not flown in a few years. She is headed to a good home, the Pensacola Naval Air Museum where she will be loved by many. A story on the Philippine Mars retirement by the Times Colonist by be found here.

As I understand it, the Hawaii Mars will continue to fly for Coulson. At the time of this writing, Coulson has a webpage describing both the Hawaii Mars and the Phillipine Mars, that may be found here.

To the Philippine Mars, I have never met you but I know that you are one elegant lady of the skies, a large and elegant airplane. You have served long and well, first with the US navy and later as a water scooper capable of dropping 7,200 gallons of water/foam on fires. You will be loved and the folk at Pensacola will take good care of you. Perhaps one day I will go back to Pensacola and see you in the museum.

Some Wildfires in CA,ID, OR, and WA

Over the weekend, a couple of my friends have commented to me about various wildfires burning out west. This gave me the idea for today's post. I can not do justice here to all the wildfires currently burning,so I'm not even going to try. But I am going to write about some wildfires burning in CA, OR, ID, and WA. As time goes on, I'll try to report on wildfires in other regions and internationally.

California

Ponderosa Fire (CA) - update. As of Aug. 27, 2 PM EDT, the Ponderosa Fire has burned 27,676 acres and is at 85% containment. Fifty-two residences and 9- outbuildings have been destroyed. Evacuation orders for property owners within the fire's perimeter have been lifted. The latest update from CAL FIRE may be found here. I posted on this fire and the aerial assault on this fire on August 20, Aug. 22, and Aug. 24.

CAL FIRE's fire information page, with a listing of current wildfires, may be found here. Inciweb lists some California wildfires, including those burning on national lands here.

Oregon
I would be remiss not to include Oregon. Earlier this month, on August 5 to be exact lightning ignited what is now known as the Holloway Fire that has burned 461,047 acres in Oregon and Nevada. According to the latest Inciweb report for the Holloway Fire dated on or about Aug. 22, the fire is at 97% containment. 245,505 have burned in Oregon and 215,542 acres have burned in Nevada. Inciweb has a link to a map of the Holloway Fire showing its progression and showing areas burned in Oregon and Nevada.

There are two other wildfires in Oregon that have burned in excess of 50,000 acres: Cache Creek (56,000 acres; 40% containment  and the Barry Point Fire (93,071 acres; 97% containment.

The inciweb page for Oregon may be found here. The Oregon Dept of Forestry has  a Wildfire Blog where they post daily updates during wildfire season as well as other news.

Washington
Inciweb has three wildfires of at list 5,000 acres in Washington listed as active on Aug. 27. These are the Taylor Bridge Fire (23,500 acres; 91% containment; Buffalo Lake Road Fire (11,299 acres; 100% contained) and the Antoine 2 Fire (6,837 acres; 90% containment.

The main page for the Washington Dept. of Natural Resources fire information page may be found here including a link to the WA DNF aviation and helitack program webpage.

The Northwest Geographic Area Coordination Center covers both Washington and Oregon.

Idaho
Trinity Ridge Fire (ID). The Trinity Ridge is one of a few large wildfires currently burning in Idaho. I first reported on the Trinity Ridge Fire, still burning in the Boise National Forest in Idaho on Aug.13. As I write this, the fire has burned 128,200 acres and is at 5% containment.

There is a good short summary of these and other wildfires burning in Idaho on this Smokeshowin thread. You might also want to check out the listing of Idaho Wildfires from InciWeb. More information on wildfires in Idaho can be found at either the the  East Basin Geographic Coordination Center (southern Idaho or the Northern Rockies Geographic Area Coordination Centers.

The Fire Management webpage of the Idaho Dept. of Lands may be found here including a link to a daily fire report (an excel spreadsheet).

Stay safe out there everyone!

Ponderosa Fire update # 2

According to the latest update on the Ponderosa Fire (Aug. 24, 2012 at 8:25 AM), the fire has burned 28, 098 acres and is at 68% containment. Sixty-four residences and 20 outbuildings have been destroyed. Evacuations are still in place. Four people have been injured. The latest update on the fire from CAL FIRE may be found here.



KCRA coverage on Ponderosa Fire, August, 23, 2012



CA National Guard Helo bucket drop from above, Ponderosa Fire, KCRA (Aug. 20, 2012)



CAL FIRE S2-T's drop, Ponderosa Fire, (Aug. 20, 2012)



DC-10 T-910 drop, Ponderosa Fire (Aug 20, 2012)

Ponderosa Fire (CA) - Update

A quick update on the Ponderosa Fire currently burning in northern CA. As of mid-day PDT, the fire has burned 24,323 acres and is at 50% containment. Fifty structures have been destroyed and evacuations remain in place. Here is a report from kcrc news 7. If you have trouble with, or can not see the video that I embedded above, it is from CBS in San Francisco and may be found here.

Ponderosa Fire (CA)

I was reading about the Ponderosa Fire last night on this lengthy initial attack hotlist thread on WildlandFire, and I thought that some of you might be interested in some information about this fire. The Ponderosa fire started on Saturday, Aug. 18. As I write this, the Ponderosa fire, burning in Tehama and Shasta Counties in California, has burned 15,000 acres and is at 5% containment. Seven structures have been destroyed and evacuation orders are in place.

There is a nice synopsis of the aerial resources that were working the Ponderosa Fire over the weekend that I found on this thread on Smokeshowin. I understand that in addition to CAL FIRE S-2T's,  both DC-10 tankers from 10 Tanker Corp. (T-910 and T-911), two MAFFS, and Neptune's Bae-146 T-40 worked the fire at some point over this past weekend. In addition, I think but am not certain, that some helos were working the fire as well. KCRC News Channel 7 has some footage, dated Aug. 19, of the Ponderosa Fire shot from a helicopter. I don't seem able to embed that video, but I hope you take three or four minutes to go to the link and watch the video where you will see a few aircraft working the fire.

Bill Gabbert of WildFire Today writes about the Ponderosa Fire and its proximity to the a wildfire burning in Lassen NP in an article dated Aug. 19, 2012.

A direct link to the video that I tried to embed above (dated Aug. 19) from CBS in San Francisco CA may be found here, an associated story from CBS in San Francisco is found on this webpage. KRCR News Channel 7 has a report on the Ponderosa Fire that you might want to check out.

USFS to resume night drops with one helo in 2013

I'd like to thank a friend of mine who gave me a heads up yesterday that the USFS will be resuming night flights of helicopters to fight fires in southern California in 2013. At first just one helo will be used, stationed in the Angeles National Forest. He sent me a link to a video report on the resumption of these night operations that is no longer available (updated on July 18, 2013)

Press-Enterprise article on USFS resumption of night flights

Wildfire Today on USFS resumption of night flights

Wildfire in Aguanga CA: Air Ops

Last night I heard that one of the DC-10 tankers and a MAFFS were working a wildfire in Southern California. This morning I read about the Bucks Fire that is burning in Aguanga CA near Temecula on this wildland fire hotlist initial attack thread on Buck fire. I found a link from KABC 7 in LA to a story that included two videos showing air operations over the fire, the story may be found here . It was my intention to embed both of these videos, unfortunately I have been having difficulties with the embed code that I am not able to resolve. So I have opted to delete the embed code. Please take about five minutes and go look at both of the videos: Temecula-area brush fire continues to burn | Video | abc7.com (includes footage of DC-10, Grumman S-2T and a MAFFS C-130) and DC-10 air tanker makes two drops on Buck Fire | Video | abc7.com.

You might enjoy this KABC 7 photo gallery You might want to check out the wildland fire initial attack hotlist thread for the Bucks Fire.

I've made a few revisions today (the last on Aug 15, 2012, 3 PM EDT) fine tuning the links to the KABC 7 videos. Thanks for your patience!

Idaho Wildfires Update #1

One of the DC-10 tankers and a MAFFS C-130 did indeed work the Ourada Ranch Fire (419 acres) near Boise, Idaho. See this report from KBOI 2 for more information, along with their photo gallery.

Idaho Wildfires

In my wonderings over the last few days I have been hearing the news about the many wildfires currently burning in Idaho. I am not able to pull together links and other resources for you on all these fires. Nor am I going to even try to list all the fires. I'd like to start by reporting a line of duty death, the Idaho Statesman reports on the death of Anne Veseth, a USFS firefighter who was killed by a tree while working a fire near Lewistown Idaho, she was working the Steep Corner Fire (43 acres) in the Nez Perce-clearwater National Forest.

I thought that it might be useful to find some articles summarizing the current wildfire situation in Idaho. To that end, I found this short report dated Aug 12, 2012 story from KTVB7 on wildfires burning in Idaho along with this short report from KIVI ABC6. You might enjoy: a photo gallery from KBOI2 of a grass fire near Boise and another photo gallery from KTVB 7.

One of the first things that I did in preparing this article was to go to the current listing of Idaho Wildfires on InciWeb (as of about 2 PM EDT on Aug. 13, 2012). For brevity, I am only listing the Idaho wildfires that have burned at least 10,000 acres:

• Halstead Fire Salmon-Challis National Forest. Fire origin on Fri. July 27, 2012 from lightning, 49,322 acres, 3% contained
• Minidoka Complex Sawtooth National Forest. Fire origin on Sun. Aug 5, 2012 from lightning, 92,511 acres, 44% contained. Boise National Forest. 
• Trinity Ridge Fire Boise National Forest. Fire origin on Fri. Aug 3, 2012 probably human caused, 37.044 acres, 5% contained.
• Flat Top 2 Twins Falls District of the Bureau of Land Management. Fire origin on Sun. Aug. 5, 2012 from lightning, 140,000 acres, 60% contained. 

I then went and downloaded the today Incident Management Situation Report from the National Interagency Coordination Center, go here to obtain the current version which will differ from the one that I downloaded today (8/13/12). I like this report because it summarizes national wildfire activity by region. A good place to start. One of the reasons why I like this National Situation Report is that it includes some fires that I can not find on InciWeb. For example, I found about the Faust Fire (wildlandfire hotlist thread that has burned 22,045 acres and is 30% contained from today's National Situation Report. I believe that the Faust Fire is burning on Bureau of Land Management Lands.

More information on wildfires burning in Idaho may be found at the Northern Rockies Coordination Center (Northern Idaho) or the Eastern Great Basin Geographic Coordination Center (southern Idaho). The fire management webpage of the Idaho Dept of Lands may be found here.

As for aerial resources working these fires, Wildfire Today posted some pictures of helos working a wildfire in southern Idaho. I then found that the Idaho Statesman is reporting on NC Air National Guard deployment to Boise Idaho for wildland firefighting, from what I understand the 145th will send two aircraft with 16 airmen to Boise. Finally, as I was working on this article, I found a report from KTVB7 that one of the DC-10 tankers is being dispatched to fight the Ourada Ranch Brush Fire near Boise Idaho, a photo gallery may be found on this page from KTVB in Boise. I'll try to follow-up on both the DC-10 tanker and the 145th deployment.

 I'd like to thank my friend from Boise for pointing me to some of the Boise news outlets.

Smokejumpers in Alaska

I found this cool video just now on youtube looking for videos. It was shot in June 2012 over the course of three hours as Smokejumpers from Alaska and Montana fought Fire 225 in Alaska. For more on the video please go and see the information page.

Martin Mars vandalized

The Times Colonist reported yesterday that the Martin Mars was vandalized on Saturday night. There was damage to the tail fin that I believe has since been repaired. The crew is ok. The outcome could have been a lot worse. Go here to read the Times Colonist article about the vandalism to the Martin Mars. Go here to see coverage on the vandalism of the Martin Mars from wildfiretoday

I love the Martin Mars. Here is a youtube video showing coverage from ABC 7 in LA of the Martin Mars dropping on Mt. Wilson during the 2009 Station Fire. I saw this live, so to speak, as I was watching live feed from LA stations. Don't recall what station I was watching, but it was pretty impressive to see her make a live drop.

Curiosity has landed

The image of Curiosity making her desent to Mars with her parachute was taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's HiRise Camera. The video is a compilation of stills taken by Curiosity as she descended to the surface of Mars.

NASA's Rover, Curiosity landed on Mars early about 1:30 AM EDT. Yes, I watched the live feed from NASA TV on the web. For more on Curiosity, go to this NASA webpage on the Curiosity mission.

Remembering Mann Gulch

I was reminded about the Mann Gulch Fire last week when I read this post on Wildfire Today. On Aug. 5, 1949, 13 smokejumpers died fighting the Mann Gulch Fire.

You see, when I got interested in wildland firefighting, I knew that a former professor of mine from grad school, Mark, might be able to help me. I knew that Mark had been interested in forestry as a young man. When I was preparing for an exam, I read a little about forestry (under Mark's direction) for an exam in rural planning.

I had kept in touch with Mark over the years since I finished grad school, so I figured I had nothing to lose by contacting Mark to ask him to suggest books on wildland fire fighting. He did not disappoint. He suggested that I read Norman Maclean's book, Young Men and Fire about the Mann Gulch Fire and the smoke jumpers who died there. I read the book. I'm not quite sure what to say except that I was moved by what I read. And by the end of the book, I knew that I wanted to learn more. I suspect that I would have heard about the Mann Gulch Fire on my own at some point, but I'm glad that I read about this fire early on.

So, I'd like to thank Mark for suggesting the book to me, and for his support of me over the years, including my efforts here on this blog. Thanks Mark!

 I found the video that I embedded here on the Mann Gulch Fire from archives.org, on this page.

Added on June 15, 2016: I don't think that either the link or the embedded video on this article is working. Over the next several days, I'll try to take some time to get new links for you. Please be patient. 

Thank-you air attack base ground crews

Please take a few moments to watch a video from KPAX in Missoula Montana (July 5, 2012) reporting on ground operations at a Montana tanker base during a wildfire last July.

A couple of days ago, one of my friends sent me a link to a very nice article from the Billings Gazette (July 8, 2012) about the tanker base in Billings Montana. At that time, there were two Convair 580s and their bird dogs (aerial supervision planes) from Canada and at least one Lockheed P2V tanker at the Billings Air Attack Base. Before I go on, I hope that you take a few moments and read the July 8 article from the Billings Gazette because you will get an insight into what goes on at a tanker base. Here is another article from the TimesCall in CO, dated June 11 of this year as the High Park Fire was burning in Colorado.

I am reminded that tankers can not fly with out the help of the crews at air attack bases such as the bases at Billings Montana or Broomfield Colorado. Aircraft maintenance, as necessary, is done at the bases during the overnight and perhaps between flights. Aircraft are refueled. When the dispatch order comes in, the pilots perform their preflight checks, and retardant is loaded. All this happens with the help and support of various ground crews and the tanker base manager.

For all of you who are working on the ground at various air attack bases in support of aerial wildland firefighting activities, a big thank-you. I know you are there.

Speaking of Montana, as I write this, I know that there are a few wildfires currently burning in Montana, including but not limited to the Sarpy Hills Complex Fires and the Rosebud Complex Fires. I am not in a position at this time to speak with certainty about aircraft that are currently working the wildfires in Montana, but I suspect that there are tankers and helos at bases in or near Montana ready to fly fires when the calls comes in. And when the call comes in, the ground crews at the tanker bases will work as a team to get the tankers, lead planes, bird dogs for any Convair 580s and helos up and flying within five to ten minutes.

Rapid Attack/Rappel attack aka rapattack

I have a good friend from Canada, a former tanker pilot, who sends me all sorts of wonderful stuff. A few days ago he sent me a link to the July/August 2012 edition of Canadian Skies Magazine. When I went to their website today, the digital edition of the July/August 2012 edition was freely available. One of the articles that my friend pointed me to was on pages 51-2. The article in question is called "Controlled Decsent, it is about British Columbia's help rappel program called rapattack. Since I am not certain how long the link to the July/August 2012 digital edition will be freely available, I am going to summarize some pertinent information about British Columbia's Rapattack program. Edited on May 16, 2016 to note that the digital edition of the July/August 2012 edition of Canadian Skies Magazine is no longer available.

The rapattack program is short for rapid attack and rappel attack. Started in 1977, it was the first program in Canada where wildland firefighters are inserted in remote and inaccessible areas by rappelling down 300 foot ropes from helicopters. In 2012, the helicopter fleet includes one Bell 412SP, one Bell 212HO, and one Bell 212. The helos have a 370 belly tank.

Initial attack rapattack crews work in teams of three. In addition to the pilot, a helicopter operations tech is on the helicopter when the rapattack crew is deployed to a fire. Two 175-pound canvas bags are filled with fire fighting tools including chain saws, pulaskies, shovels, axes, a hose, and a 300-gallon collapsible water tank. And of course, fuel and oil for the equipment. The crew travels with sleeping gear and food for a 24 to 48 hour period.

The two videos that I embedded here show a rapattack helicopter taking off (love the sound of the engines) and a demonstration of rappelling. The two videos that I had previously embedded here are no longer available (May 16, 2016).