A look at smokejumpers from NIFC

I've been sharing videos from the National Interagency Fire Center. Today's video is called Wildland Fire, Smokejumping and the Great Basin Smokejumpers. Allow about eight minutes for the video.


direct link to video

About Helos

The National Interagency Fire Center has a youtube channel with a variety of videos about wildland firefighting. I'll be embedding some of their videos over the next few days.

The first on is a video called Innovative Uses of Helicopters (about 25 minutes), about helos in wildfire fighting then, now, and in the future.


direct link to video

What's coming up

Over the next few days I'll be sharing some videos with you from the National Interagency Fire Center, they have a nice youtube channel with a variety of videos (over 90). Sorry if any of you saw a post disappear, my bad. The post in question, on Wildland Fire Engines -- up close, should reappear on Monday June 2.

May 28: About Helos (used in wildland firefighting)
May 30: A look at smokejumping from NIFC
June 2: Wildland Fire Engines -- up close
June 4: About chainsaws

Vide from Government Flats Complex -- August/September 2013The Dalles, OR

Here is a another great video by Steve Konrad, this one is his last video of the 2013 season shot while he and his crew were working Government Complex Fire.

I am struck by the professionalism and comradarie of the crew. Not only did the crew know what they were doing, I could tell that were very much a crew, a team. Working together, and looking out for each other, and staying safe. During down times, e.g. in the crew van, they had fun.

Staying safe, at about 4:10, Steve Konrad (videographer) made a comment about "being chased off the mountain last night." They stayed safe.

You will see a couple of helos in the video, one with a bucket and one with a snorkel. You will see several shots of the helo with a snorkel (sikorsky 61).

As I write this, the inciweb page on the Government Flats Comples (last updated Sept. 9, 2013)

  is still up, I'm not sure how much longer it will be available. So, I'll summarize pertinent information. Three fires started on Friday August 16th from lightning -- Blackburn, Government Flat, and Wells -- about 10 miles southwest of The Dalles, OR. On Sept. 4, 2013, the fires were at 90% containment and had burned approximately 11,434 acres. There is a thread on the Wildland Fire hotlist forums that may be found here, according to that thread the fire was contained on Sept. 10, 2013 at 11,354 acres.

direct link to video

Back Burn at night -- Pole Creek Fire, Sisters OR, Sept. 2012

Here is another video from my buddy Steve Konrad. In this video he provides us with a rare look at a back burn done at night on the Pole Creek Fire in Sisters OR, September 2012. I've watched this video a few times by now. Steve's video makes me feel like I am there, watching this crew do the back burn, holding the line, and staying safe. An inside view of something that I would not otherwise see. I'm not quite sure of the final acreage burned as the Oregon Dept. of Forestry and Inciweb no longer have pages on this fire. According to this thread on the wildlandfire hotlist the fire burned at least 12,000 acres.

I'll stop here and let Steve's video speak for itself.



direct link to video

MAFFS in Wyoming

A nice video of the MAFFS North Carolina Air National Guard in Wyoming on May 2 2014. I am not sure, but I am wondering if this is during training.


direct link to video on youtube

San Diego County (CA) Tanker activity and CAL FIRE (5/16 update)

A nice video shot on May 16, 2014 by Scorched Sky Production of tanker activity at San Bernardino Air Base of tankers working the San Diego County (CA) wildfires.


direct link to video from Scorched Sky Productions

An update from CAL FIRE on Friday, May 16 of that weeks wildfire activity with a focus on wildfires that burned in San Diego County, the use of aerial and ground resources, and the ongoing drought


direct link to video

Here is the status of the fires that I wrote about last week from the CAL FIRE incident information page, e.g. the information on the Coco Fire has been updated since the May 16th CAL FIRE situation report:

• The Coco Fire has burned 1,995 acres and is 89 percent contained as of 8:05 AM on May 19th. I suspect, but am not certain, that the lower burned acreage is due to better mapping.
• The Poinsettia Fire has burned 600 acres and is 100 percent contained (last updated on May 17, 2014).
• The Bernardo Fire has burned 1,548 acres and is 100 percent contained (last updated on May 17, 2014).

San Diego County CA wildfires -- photo galleries

Here are some photo galleries and videos of the wildfires that have been burning in San Diego County the past four days. According to the CAL FIRE current incident page, the Poinsettia Fire is 100% contained at 600 acres, the Cocos Fire (San Marco) had burned 3,018 acres with 10% containment at 9:15 AM PDT this morning, and the Bernardo Fire has burned 1,548 acres and is 90% contained. I updated the fires that I have written about, for information on other fires burning in San Diego County, check the CAL FIRE current incident page.



direct link to video from U-T San Diego



direct link to video from U-T San Diego (some shots of air support, I think this video was shot on May 15th)

NBC San Diego Photo Gallery (I had disable my adblocker to view the gallery, and it was well worth it!)

LA Times Article (May 16, 2:14 PDT) with photo gallery

More wildfires in San Diego County, CA

I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that when I wrote about the Bernardo Fire In San Diego County, CA yesterday I did not realize that there were a few other wildfires burning in San Diego County at the same time. Fortunately, Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today has been doing his usual excellent job of reporting, covering these fires in an article first posted on May 14th (with a map and photos) and a second article first posted on May 15th (with another map). I was following the reporting on these fires from two San Diego broadcast news outlets, CBS8 news and ABC7.

I found this video, which I am embedding included in a report from ABC7 on the DC-10 tanker working the fire in San Marco



I was following the Poinsettia Fire, which at last report from the City of Carslbad has burned 22 residences and was 50 percent contained. As many as 11,600 people were evacuated at one point yesterday, at least some of those folk were allowed back into their residences late last night. I wasn't following the Coco Fire, that has burned 700 acres according to CAL FIRE's incident page for the Coco Fire because it is several miles west of the Poinsettia Fire.

CAL FIRE has a current incident page where information on all or most of the fires that burned yesterday and into today in San Diego County may be found.

Finally, according to CAL FIRE's latest update available on the Bernardo Fire as I wrote this article (7:30 AM PDT) has burned 1,548 acres and is at 75 percent containment.

Bernardo Fire (San Diego County, CA)

While much of my focus in recent weeks has been focusing on New Jersey's spring wildfire season, I do pay attention to wildfire activity in other parts of the country. The wildfire known as the Bernardo Fire (San Diego County, CA) caught my eye in part because I know that there are Red Flag Warnings are in place through late Thursday (May 15) for portions of Southern California that include San Diego County (see Bill Gabbert's May 13th article for more information. But also I have family and friends in southern California so I am especially mindful of wildfires that are burning in San Diego County and environs.

So for any of my family and friends in southern California who are reading this, know that I am always thinking of you when wildfires are burning and I am thankful that you are safe.

The latest update from CAL FIRE (9:15 AM PDT on 5/14) states that the fire has burned 1,548 acres and is 25 percent contained. Evacuations that were in place have been lifted. Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today has done his usual good job of reporting, have a nice article with photos and a video that he posted on May 13th (with updates).

I found a nice short photo gallery (with some nice shots of helos) from this fire on the Washington Post.

Utah Army Army National Guard -- Blackhawks -- Aerial Firefighting

Videos by Staff. Sgt Robert Harnden. The videos show some of Utah Army National Guard personnel flying a UH-60L Blackhawk Helicopter with a 530 gallon bucket flying fires in Utah and Idaho in August 2013. There are three videos embedded here, allow just under 7 minutes to watch each video.

Part 1

Footage from inside the Blackhawk, includes view from inside of dipping in a small water tank and dropping on a wildfire. Includes audio.


Direct link to video on DVIDSHUB


Part 2
Footage from inside the Blackhawk, includes view from inside of dipping from a pond and dropping on a wildfire. Includes audio.


Direct link to video on DVIDSHUB


Part 3
Includes footage of the Blackhawk taking off, flying, and dipping from a small water tanker.


Direct link to video on DVIDSHUB

small brush fire in NJ on May 7, contained

I was listening to the online scanner feed for New Jersey Forest Fire Service Division B this past Wednesday afternoon (May 7) while I was doing some work on my computer. At the time, I thought that I was hearing traffic about what sounded like a brush fire burning in central New Jersey. Since I needed to focus on the task on hand, I was not able to pay close attention to the scanner feed.

I didn't think much about until yesterday when a very short article came across my desk about a brush fire in Woodbridge NJ (Middlesex County). I spent a little time today rooting around on the internet and found this video on youtube, live feed from CBS2 in NYC who had their news helo over the fire Wednesday afternoon when it broke out, CBS 2 reporter Joe Biermann was reporting.



direct link to video

I don't know that much about this fire, only what I saw on the CBS 2 video and then read on My Central NJ dot com, here.

About Airtankers - video from NIFC

While I am working on an idea for an article that I hope to post this Friday, I thought that I'd share a nice video with you from the National Interagency Fire Center called Load and Return - 2013 Refresher. In the video you will learn about the use of retardants and other fire chemicals, drop heights, coverage levels, types of Airtankers (ranging from the DC-10 tankers to the 600-gallon SEATs)



direct link to video

Enhanced Fire Weather for May 5 and a small wildfire on May 3

As I write this, there is an enhanced risk of fire spread for all of New Jersey and portions of surrounding States. See the special weather statements at the end of this article. I recently found out that there is online scanner feed for New Jersey Forest Fire Service Division A on Broadcastify, that I am listening to at the moment. You may hear some calls for nearby municipal fire stations, the feed is out of Morris County.

Regarding the New Jersey Forest Fire Service Contract SEAT schedule on the right side of my blog, I just confirmed with my friends at Downstown Aero that the the ending dates for SEAT contracts are as stated on the right side of my blog under New Jersey Forest Fire Service. That is Alpha-3 is on contract through May 9, Bravo-1 is on contract through May 11, and Charlie-1 is on contract through May 18 (all of the dates are the end of the specified day).

In checking out the New Jersey Forest Fire Service Section B10 (scroll about half-way down, I expect that a report on this fire will be up for a at least a couple more days), I saw a report of small wildfire that burned in central New Jersey. Specifically, about 13 acres burned in a swampy area of the Colliers Mills WMA in Jackson Township (Ocean County, Section B9), Bravo-1 made one drop (maybe more?). The fire was reported 100 percent contained at 1330 hours on May 3rd and under control two hours later (1530 hours).

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
645 AM EDT MON MAY 5 2014

DEZ001-NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055-060>062-070-071-101>106-
052200-
NEW CASTLE-SUSSEX-WARREN-MORRIS-HUNTERDON-SOMERSET-MIDDLESEX-
WESTERN MONMOUTH-EASTERN MONMOUTH-MERCER-SALEM-GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN-
NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON-OCEAN-CUMBERLAND-ATLANTIC-CAPE MAY-
ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY-COASTAL ATLANTIC-COASTAL OCEAN-
SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON-CARBON-MONROE-BERKS-LEHIGH-NORTHAMPTON-
DELAWARE-PHILADELPHIA-WESTERN CHESTER-EASTERN CHESTER-
WESTERN MONTGOMERY-EASTERN MONTGOMERY-UPPER BUCKS-LOWER BUCKS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WILMINGTON...NEWTON...WASHINGTON...
MORRISTOWN...FLEMINGTON...SOMERVILLE...NEW BRUNSWICK...FREEHOLD...
SANDY HOOK...TRENTON...PENNSVILLE...GLASSBORO...CAMDEN...
CHERRY HILL...MOORESTOWN...MOUNT HOLLY...JACKSON...MILLVILLE...
HAMMONTON...CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE...OCEAN CITY...ATLANTIC CITY...
LONG BEACH ISLAND...WHARTON STATE FOREST...JIM THORPE...
STROUDSBURG...READING...ALLENTOWN...BETHLEHEM...EASTON...MEDIA...
PHILADELPHIA...HONEY BROOK...OXFORD...WEST CHESTER...
KENNET SQUARE...COLLEGEVILLE...POTTSTOWN...NORRISTOWN...
LANSDALE...CHALFONT...PERKASIE...MORRISVILLE...DOYLESTOWN
645 AM EDT MON MAY 5 2014

...ENHANCED RISK OF FIRE SPREAD LATE THIS MORNING INTO THIS
AFTERNOON...

LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY LEVELS, GUSTY WINDS, AND DRYING FINE FUELS
WILL CREATE AN ENHANCED RISK FOR THE SPREAD OF FIRES LATE THIS
MORNING INTO THIS AFTERNOON.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WILDFIRE DANGER, BURN RESTRICTIONS, AND
WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND EDUCATION, PLEASE VISIT YOUR STATE FORESTRY
OR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WEBSITE.

$$

ROBERTSON

---

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
653 AM EDT MON MAY 5 2014

CTZ005>012-NJZ002-004-006-103>108-NYZ067>075-078>081-176>179-
052200-
NORTHERN FAIRFIELD-NORTHERN NEW HAVEN-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX-
NORTHERN NEW LONDON-SOUTHERN FAIRFIELD-SOUTHERN NEW HAVEN-
SOUTHERN MIDDLESEX-SOUTHERN NEW LONDON-WESTERN PASSAIC-
EASTERN PASSAIC-HUDSON-WESTERN BERGEN-EASTERN BERGEN-
WESTERN ESSEX-EASTERN ESSEX-WESTERN UNION-EASTERN UNION-ORANGE-
PUTNAM-ROCKLAND-NORTHERN WESTCHESTER-SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER-
NEW YORK (MANHATTAN)-BRONX-RICHMOND (STATEN ISLAND)-
KINGS (BROOKLYN)-NORTHWESTERN SUFFOLK-NORTHEASTERN SUFFOLK-
SOUTHWESTERN SUFFOLK-SOUTHEASTERN SUFFOLK-NORTHERN QUEENS-
NORTHERN NASSAU-SOUTHERN QUEENS-SOUTHERN NASSAU-
653 AM EDT MON MAY 5 2014

...POSSIBLE ENHANCED BRUSH FIRE SPREAD TODAY...

NORTHWEST WINDS WILL GUST 25 TO 30 MPH FROM DAYTIME MIXING WHICH
WILL ALSO BRING DOWN DEWPOINTS AND MAKE FOR RELATIVE HUMIDITY
BETWEEN 20 AND 30 PERCENT.

THE COMBINATION OF GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS AND A DRYING AIR MASS
COULD RESULT IN AN ENHANCED SPREAD OF A BRUSH FIRE IF IGNITION IS
REALIZED.

IF YOU SPOT A FIRE OR SMOKE PLUME...PLEASE REPORT IT TO THE
AUTHORITIES IMMEDIATELY.

Are Three SEATs enough for New Jersey?

As many of you no doubt know last Thursday (April 24th) saw two major wildfires in Berkeley Township, NJ (Ocean County). Two single-engine  airtankers (Air Tractor 602s) on contract with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) dropped on those major wildfires and one or two other smaller wildfires that burned nearby. One or two NJFFS Huey helicopters with buckets worked the fires in addition to an observation NJFFS observation helicopter. I knew that Charlie-2 dropped on a 1,500 acre wildfire that burned earlier that same week in southern New Jersey (Railroad Fire in Downe Township). Last Tuesday (April 22nd), a 75-acre wildfire burned near Highlands Lake, NJ in northern New Jersey, I understand that Alpha-3 dropped on that fire.

I wondered if three SEATs were enough.  I was happy when I heard that there was authorization for a fourth SEAT that day (Charlie-2). I was somewhat relieved when my friends at Downstown told me that Alpha-3 was on base at Andover-Aeroflex in Division A (north Jersey), and that Charlie-2 (Turbo-Cat) was ready to respond to other wildfires in Divisions B and C (central and south Jersey respectively).

Ok, so we had other single-engine air tankers available on Thursday April 24th that were not working fires in Ocean County, NJ. Still, knowing that we were under Red Flag Warnings that day, I wondered what would happen if other larger or even major wildfires cropped up. 

It turned out that there was another major wildfire that Thursday night, the White Oak Wildfire in Gloucester County, NJ. I don't exactly know when Charlie-1 was released from the wildfires in Berkeley Township and how the timing of her release worked out with her need to drop on the White Oak Wildfire. All I know is that, at least on the surface, the timing of these two wildfires seemed to work out. After finishing her work on the wildfires in Berkeley Township, Charlie-1 flew down south to work the White Oak Wildfire. It was a happy ending in Berkeley Township, all were safe and no residences were destroyed. The wildfire in White Oak did not threaten any houses. 

My friends at Downstown Aero told me that both Charlie-1 and Charlie-2 worked the White Oak wildfire. Furthermore, Charlie-1 was broken away to make two drops on another wildfire elsewhere in Division C (Section C8, I believe) before going back to the White Oak Wildfire.

I don't have any details, but I am sure that both Charlie-2 and Alpha-3 worked some smaller fires on the 24th.

Last week (week ended April 27th) was the busiest week in our spring wildfire season that I have witnessed since I started writing this blog on aerial wildland fire fighting five years ago. As I was watching some of the press coverage as well as other videos, I thought that we were very lucky that we escaped with only minimal structural damage. No lives were lost and there were no injuries that I know of. 

If we continue to have only three SEATs on contract during the spring wildfire season here in New Jersey, the next time we may not be so lucky. The next time lives, houses, and property could be in jeopardy with only three SEATs. 

A solution is having a minimum of six SEATs on contract, as we did a few years ago. That would be  two SEATs minimum in each of three divisions during the spring wildfire season. Two SEATs at different airports in each division. Two SEATs in each division, a quick flight anywhere they might be needed in the division. Two SEATs  to cover one wildfire in their Division along the lines of last week's Continental Wildfire would of meant that two SEATs would have stayed in Division C.

Three SEATs are not enough. 

New Jersey wildfires for the week ended April 27, 2014

I knew that there would be an impressive amount of acreage burned here in New Jersey last week (week ended April 27). Each week, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service posts figures for acreage burned to date for the most week ended on Sunday (acreage burned and number of wildfires) with comparisons to the prior year. Regular readers will know that I update these figures frequently on the right side of this blog. I have been waiting for the New Jersey Forest Fire Service to release figures for the week ended April 27, which I found earlier today.

The figures for the most recent two weeks are:

Jan 1 through April 20, 2014: 377 fires -- 2,194.5 acres burned. Comparison to 2013: 383 fires, 648.25 acres burned.

Jan 1 through April 27, 2014: 488 fires -- 6,225.85 acres burned. Comparison to 2013: 464 fires, 750.25 acres burned.

Here are some figures that I noted for wildfires that I know about that burned last week, numbers may be approximate. I think, but am not sure, that Alpha 3 worked the fire on Tuesday in Vernon Twsp. I have written elsewhere (for example, see the article I wrote on April 28) about each of the other wildfires, that one or more SEATs flew four of the five remaining wildfires. I'm not certain if a SEAT flew the Crossroads Wildfire.

Tuesday, April 22

Vernon Twsp (Division A) 75 acres 

Wednesday, April 23

Railroad Wildfire (C3, Down Twp) 1,500 acres

Thursday , April 24

Continental (B7, Beachwood/Berkeley Twsp) 307 acres

Crossroads (B7, Berkeley Twsp) 219 acres

White Oak (Division C) 569 acres

Friday, April 25

Springers Brook (B1, Shamong Twsp) 200 acres

Total acreage burned in these six wildfires of 2,870 acres. Looking at the two most recent weeks of year to date figures for acreage burned from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service: 6,225.75 (4/27) minus 2,194.5 (4/20) yields 4,031.25 acres burned for the week ended April 27. The six fires that I highlighted above (roughly 2,870 acres burned) represent 71.2 percent of the acreage burned that week. 

Consider the Degolia Wildfire which burned approximately 800 acres in Waterford Township, Camden County NJ (Section C6). The fire was reported on Sunday April 27th, and contained a day or so later. I don't know if the NJFFS counts a fire as burning in the week the fire started or the week the fire is contained. So, I decided to include this fire in a separate paragraph.

I'd love to compare acreage burned for the week ended April 27 to total acreage burned in prior years, but while I have some rough figures from numbers I've recorded back to 2010, they are not be accurate. So I'm not going to do such an analysis. Suffice it to say, the over 4,000 acres burned in one week is a lot of acreage. No, not any kind of record, no where near that. But a lot of acreage burned nonetheless. 

Definitely a week that I'll remember.

Downstown Aero's Turbo-Cat in action

Downstown Aero has a couple of videos on youtube of their Turbo-Cat in action. I thought you'd enjoy seeing her.


direct link to video


direct link to video