Random Ramblings: Aerial Wildland Firefighting

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.

Monday, May 26, 2014

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.