Hurricane Joaquin - Hurricane Hunters are flying

Some of you may recall that I wrote a series on Hurricane Hunters in late summer. Some of you also know that Hurricane Joaquin is in the Atlantic. His exact tract is unknown at this time. 

Yesterday I went to the National Hurricane Center's Aircraft Recon page to see what was going on, and saw that the Hurricane Hunters did fly on  September 29th and are due to fly on today (September 30) and tomorrow (October 1). See below. As I wait for whatever happens in a few days, will Joaquin strike the Mid-Atlantic, I am reassured that the Hurricane Hunters are out flying and gathering observations of Joaquin that the National Hurricane Center will use in their advisories. I believe that the Teal desingation refers to Hurricane Hunters from the US Air Force Reserve 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron.

Thank-you Hurricane Hunters!

NOUS42 KNHC 291432
REPRPD
WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS
CARCAH, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, MIAMI, FL.
1030 AM EDT TUE 29 SEPTEMBER 2015
SUBJECT: TROPICAL CYCLONE PLAN OF THE DAY (TCPOD)
         VALID 30/1100Z TO 01/1100Z OCTOBER 2015
         TCPOD NUMBER.....15-126

I.  ATLANTIC REQUIREMENTS
    1. TROPICAL STORM JOAQUIN
       FLIGHT ONE -- TEAL 73           FLIGHT TWO -- NOAA 49
       A. 30/1130Z                     A. 01/0000Z 
       B. AFXXX 0311A JOAQUIN          B. NOAA9 0411A JOAQUIN
       C. 30/0715Z                     C. 30/1730Z 
       D. 26.3N 72.4W                  D. NA
       E. 30/1100Z TO 30/1400Z         E. NA
       F. SFC TO 10,000FT              F. 41,000 TO 45,000FT

       FLIGHT THREE -- TEAL 74         FLIGHT FOUR -- NOAA 49
       A. 30/2330Z                     A. 01/1200Z
       B. AFXXX 0511A JOAQUIN          B. NOAA9 0611A JOAQUIN
       C. 30/1930Z                     C. 01/0530Z
       D. 26.3N 73.1W                  D. NA
       E. 30/2300Z TO 01/0200Z         E. NA  
       F. SFC TO 10,000FT              F. 41,000 TO 45,000FT

       FLIGHT FIVE -- TEAL 75
       A. 01/1130Z
       B. AFXXX 0711A JOAQUIN
       C. 01/0730Z
       D. 26.1N 73.7W
       E. 01/1100Z TO 01/1400Z
       F. SFC TO 10,000FT

    2. OUTLOOK FOR SUCCEEDING DAY: POSSIBLE 6-HRLY FIXES 
       BEGINNING AT 01/2330Z. G-IV MISSIONS DEPARTING AT 01/1730Z
       AND 02/0530Z.

II. PACIFIC REQUIREMENTS
    1. NEGATIVE RECONNAISSANCE REQUIREMENTS.
    2. SUCCEEDING DAY OUTLOOK.....NEGATIVE

$$
JWP

NOUS42 KNHC 301532
REPRPD
WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS
CARCAH, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, MIAMI, FL.
1130 AM EDT WED 30 SEPTEMBER 2015
SUBJECT: TROPICAL CYCLONE PLAN OF THE DAY (TCPOD)
         VALID 01/1100Z TO 02/1100Z OCTOBER 2015
         TCPOD NUMBER.....15-127

I.  ATLANTIC REQUIREMENTS
    1. HURRICANE JOAQUIN
       FLIGHT ONE -- TEAL 75           FLIGHT TWO -- NOAA 49
       A. 01/1130Z,1730Z               A. 02/0000Z 
       B. AFXXX 0711A JOAQUIN          B. NOAA9 0811A JOAQUIN
       C. 01/0730Z                     C. 01/1730Z 
       D. 24.1N 73.2W                  D. NA
       E. 01/1100Z TO 01/1700Z         E. NA
       F. SFC TO 10,000FT              F. 41,000 TO 45,000FT

       FLIGHT THREE -- TEAL 72         FLIGHT FOUR -- NOAA 49
       A. 01/2330Z,02/0530Z            A. 02/1200Z
       B. AFXXX 0911A JOAQUIN          B. NOAA9 1011A JOAQUIN
       C. 01/1930Z                     C. 02/0530Z
       D. 24.4N 74.4W                  D. NA
       E. 01/2300Z TO 02/0500Z         E. NA  
       F. SFC TO 10,000FT              F. 41,000 TO 45,000FT

       FLIGHT FIVE -- TEAL 73
       A. 02/1130Z,1730Z
       B. AFXXX 1111A JOAQUIN
       C. 02/0730Z
       D. 25.3N 74.5W
       E. 02/1100Z TO 01/1700Z
       F. SFC TO 10,000FT

    2. OUTLOOK FOR SUCCEEDING DAY: CONTINUE 6-HRLY FIXES. 
       G-IV MISSIONS DEPARTING AT 02/1730Z AND 03/0530Z.
    3. REMARKS: FLIGHT ONE ABOVE WAS PREVIOUSLY LISTED ON TCPOD
       15-126 AS A SINGLE FIX MISSION. A FIX FOR 01/0530Z HAS
       ALSO BEEN ADDED TO THE 30/2330Z MISSION.

II. PACIFIC REQUIREMENTS
    1. NEGATIVE RECONNAISSANCE REQUIREMENTS.
    2. SUCCEEDING DAY OUTLOOK.....NEGATIVE

$$
JWP

Fighting the Mud River Complex of Wildfires in Big Cypress National Preserve FL

I have a special affection for the Everglades National Park and the Big Cypress National Preserve in South Florida. My interest in the Everglades stems from my time in graduate school when I did a lot of reading on South Florida, in particular the Everglades National Park and the Big Cypress National Preserve. I recall from my reading that fires have played an important role in the ecology of this region. My studies on South Flordia took place twenty-five years ago. My life took a different turn and I did not pursue my interest in doing more studies on the Everglades and the Big Cypress. That is life. However, my affection for that region of Flordia remains.

About thirteen years ago I spent Christmas week in central Florida. We took a couple of days and took a trip down to South Florida, staying outside of Naples. The day that we drove across Route 41 remains with me to this day. Unfortunately, the pictures that I took do not remain with me. I wish that I had some photos to share with you from that trip, if I can dig them up, I'll revise this post.

Driving across Route 41 was special, we took a side trip and drove through a portion of the Big Cypress Preserve. A special place.

I knew that there were a complex of wildfires, the Mud River Complex, that burned in the Big Cypress National Preserve this past May. The Mud River Complex of fires burned 30,000 acres in the Big Cypress National Preserve. The total acreage of the Big Cypress is 729,000 acres.  Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today covered these fires on May 14th (maps), May 23rd, and May 25th (interviews with firefighters working the Mud River Complex. I checked Inciweb to find that they are no longer listing any information for the Mud River Complex.

When I saw that Bill Gabbert had shared a documentary film on the Mud River Complex in a September 24th post on Wildfire Today, I knew that I had to honor my affection for that part of Florida and share it with you. Perhaps those of you who follow Wildfire Today have already seen the video. If so, I think that it is worth watching again. The video is a little over ten minutes long. You will see some footage of helicopters working the wildfire as well as some aerial footage of some of the areas burned by the fire. I was especially struck by the work that went into saving areas were wildlife feed and raise their young. Here is the direct link to video that I am embedding below. Please go to the link and read more about this video by clicking more.

Reflections on the drought in the Western USA and aerial firefighting

Like many of you who do not live in the Western United States, my thoughts frequently turn to the four year drought that has been impacting California and other western States. And because I write this blog on aerial wild land firefighting, I wonder about how the drought might or might no be affecting aerial wildland firefighting. While I have no first hand knowledge, I do understand that water sources out West are drying up. 

Obviously, I am not in the position to witness first hand all the work that our wild land firefighters, on the ground and in the air, have done to fight wildfires in this awful fire season. However, I do know that tankers and helicopters are flying fires. Helos are dipping, somewhere. Perhaps helps have to fly a little further to find a water source to dip from or perhaps there are portable dip tanks aka “pumpkins” set up. But they are dipping. Likewise, tanker bases have water to mix retardant. 

I recall from conversations with my tanker pilot friends that it is necessary to wash the retardant off of the bellies of tankers at least every few days. Washing retardant off of the bellies of air tankers must take an awful lot of water. I would think that tanker bellies are still being washed.

I have been thinking about helicopters recently, helitankers and helos with buckets. I know that some water sources that helos had used for dipping in prior years are drying up. I wondered what the helos are using for alternate water sources. I have known about the use of pumpkins for dipping, especially in more remote locations. I figured that pumpkins might be playing an increased role, but was not certain. I recently got an answer to this question, at least as applies to the Nevada National Guard and the Nevada Division of Forestry from a recent article in Vertical Magazine.

The article discusses water sources that could have been once used by helicopters to dip that are too dry now, preventing them from using these water sources to dip from.

Fortunately the Nevada Division of Forestry (NDF) has a work around for the problem of drying up water sources in Nevada, discussing different options:

For example, NDF has the capability to pump water from low-standing sources into portable pools, or ‘pumpkins,’ to pick up and drop on fire lines. 

The Guard’s buckets include pumps that can fill the buckets to capacity when the pumps are submerged in at least 18 inches of water. Those bucket pumps are being used more in drought conditions this year. much of the firefighting this summer has occurred to Nevada's west in California where Nevada Guard aviators have deployed for firefighting missions.

I am glad to have learned that the NDF and the Nevada National Guard have the ability to use some water sources that are too low to be used for conventional dipping. I learned something, which is always a good thing.

The Vertical Magazine article that I cited above refers to using pumps to pump water into pumpkins. I am pretty certain that there are other means to fill the pumpkins, portable water tanks would be one. Another option could be fire hydrants that might be in a reasonable proximity to the wildfire.

I wonder about water sources for the CL 215/415 scoopers. Are some water sources too low for the scoopers to use? Fortunately, I understand that the scoopers can be refilled at tanker bases if need be.  

I’ll try to continue to follow how the drought out West is affecting aerial resources used to fight wildfires and I'll report back if I learn something. In the meantime, I know how hard wild land firefighters in the air and on the ground are working. I know that their families and loved ones miss them. Stay safe everyone.

wildland firefighting: aerial and ground resources working together

I had something else in mind for today, but it wasn't exactly working out. I decided to take a little more time on that post.

I decided to show you some video of ground and aerial resouces working together to fight a wildfire. I had bookmarked this video (below), and think it will do the trick. This is footage shot on August 16th (2015) by durlingmeda of a brush fire in Montebello CA. I love this video because you see groundpounders, a dozer or two and tankers and helos working this fire. Everyone working together to contain the fire. Forgive me if you have seen this video before, I may have shared it last month on my video of the week page. But those videos are only up for a few days before I post another one. What I share here has some more permanance.


direct link to video 

California wildfires update -- Sept 21st

There is some news on the two wildfires that I have been following for the last week, the Valley and Butte fires. According to the California Statewide Fire Summary for September 21st, the Valley Fire (Lake County) has burned 75,781 acres, 1,050 residences have been destroyed, and is at 70 percent containment. The Butte Fire (Amador and Calaveras Counties) has burned 70,760 acres, destroyed 545 residences, and is at 74 percent containment.

CAL FIRE has issued these news releases on three civilian casualities in the Valley Fire. According to the Butte Fire incident page from CAL FIRE, there have been two casualties due to the Butte Fire, I believe that these are civilian casualities. My sincere condolances go to the families and friends of those who died in these fires.

CAL FIRE's incident page for the Valley Fire may be found here.

Meanwhile, The Tassajara Fire (Monterey County) was first reported on Saturday, September 19th. To date, 1,086 acres has burned with 30 percent containment. There has been on civilian casuality and one residence has been destroyed, that of a firefighter. Evacuations remain in place. Airtankers and helicopters are working the fire. Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today is covering the Tassajara Fire here (with maps and a video). The San Francisco Zen Center has created a webpage with updates on the Tassajara Fire that may be found here.

Daniel Berlant, the CAL FIRE Chief of Public Information has a twitter account where you may find updates.

I'd like to again take this opportunity to thank all the wildland firefighters in the air, on the ground, your support staff, and your families who miss their loved ones. Your hard work and sacrifice is appreicated. Let's take a moment to offer our thoughts and meditations. Thank-you

Still more on the Valley Fire

The other day I embedded three videos of the Valley Fire taken by Kent Porter of the Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, CA). I went to the Press Democrat today to see what they were reporting on the Valley Fire and saw an absolutely stunning blog post by Kent Porter (One Stop Under: The Valley Fire) where he shared his experience covering the Valley Fire last weekend along with some of his photographs. I hope that you take a few moments and look at Kent's blog post. All I can say is that words escape me.

Added on September 20, 2015: In a video uploaded to youtube on September 18th, Kent Porter of the Press Democrat shares about his experience covering the Valley Fire on September 12th.


direct link to video

More on the Valley Fire

As I write this, the Valley Fire (Lake, Napa, and Sonoma Counties) has burned 70,000 acres and is at 30 percent containment. The latest information, which may be different when you access the webpage) may be found at the CAL Fire Active Fires Page (scroll to find the Valley Fire). Details on the Valley Fire (link may be slow) can be found at this CAL FIRE page. Hundreds of residences have been destroyed and other buildings are destroyed. Evacuation orders remain in place. Four fire fighters have been injured and one person (civilian) has died. Tankers and helos are working the fire in support of the crews (and equipment) on the ground.

I found some videos from the Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, CA) onYoutube (here is a link to their Youtube Channel.

The first two videos are very short, under 30 seconds showing some images of the Valley Fire, one close up and the other from a distance. The videographer is Kent Porter of the Press Democrat. Both videos were uploaded on September 12, 2015


direct link to video from the Press Democrat


direct link to video from the Press Democrat

The next video is also from the Press Democrat, showing footage of an apartment complex on fire, shot by Kent Porter. The video was uploaded to youtube on September 13, 2015.


direct link to video from the Press Democrat

The final video from the Press Democrat (videographer unknown) shows some footage from Hot Springs Road after the fire went through. You will see the destruction wrought by the fire. I saw footage of one house that was still standing, many are not.


direct link to video from the Press Democrat (video uploaded on September 15, 2015)

Valley and Butte wildfires in California

I have been hearing on a couple of media outlets about the destruction of the Valley and Butte wildfires in California. As I write this, I understand from the CAL FIRE active fire list webpage that the Valley Fire has burned 61,000 acres and is at 5 percent containment. The links from the CAL FIRE active fire list for more information on each fire were not working as I write this, perhaps their website is overloaded with requests.

The Butte Fire has burned 71,063 acres and is at 30 percent containment. Hundreds of residences have been destroyed and firefighters have been injured.

At this point the only thing that I can say beyond what I have written is that words escape me. I feel that anything beyond offering thoughts and prayers to all fighting and affected by these fires is wholly inadequate.

Should you want more information on these fires, Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today has been doing his usual excellant job reporting on the fires: Valley Fire, four firefighters burned on the Valley Fire, and the Butte Fire.

Stay safe everyone!

A short overview of fighting Western US wildfires

Here is a seven and a half minute video from the PBS Newshour (September 9, 2015): intensewildfire season pushes crews to the limit, embedded below. I thought that you might enjoy this report about life on the fireline in Washington. The report also speaks to how scarce wildland firefighters, equimpent, supplies and resources are deployed; and our international friends who have sent wildland firefighting crews to help us out.

A little more about the New Jersey Forest Fire Service crews who worked out west

As you may know, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service sent two crews out west to help fight the western wildfires, see my articles of August 21st and August 22nd for more information. The ground crews did two week rotations. I believe that one crew is back and according to today's (September 9th) Eastern Area Interagency Resources Representative report, a daily report of crews currently assigned outside the Eastern Area, the second NJFFS crew was working a wildfire in California is in the process of being demobilized. I am very proud of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) Crews that have been helping our friends out west fight wildfires. I know that our help was appreciated and I want to say thank-you to those of you who were working the wildfires out west.

I thought that you might be interested in a nice article about the NJFFS crews that worked out west: New Jersey forest crews accept challenges anywhere in U.S. by James M. O'Neill of The Record (September 7th). You will learn a little about what life is like on the fireline while they were working wildfires out west as well as what they do for us here in New Jersey. I hope that you take a few moments to read this article. It will be well worth your time.

Woodmansie Wildfire - Woodland Twshp NJ

September 8, 2015, 10:05 PM EDT

Good news! The B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page reported at 7:20 PM that the Woodmansie Fire has been 100 percent contained at 1,012 acres. They go on to say that crews continue to strengthen and monitor lines."

September 8, 2015, 6:50 PM EDT

In an update posted today at 5 PM, the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page is reporting that the Woodmansie fire is at 65 percent containment. The fire has burned about 1,000 acres in Ocean and Burlington Counties (NJ).

Media reports:
6ABC Philadelphia with video (September 8th at 6:30 PM)
Asbury Park Press (September 8th at 12:26 PM)

Note: I have made edits and hopefully deleted duplicate information from the updates below. The B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page has updated their information on the Woodmansie fire a few times since they first reported the fire early yesterday afternoon. If you want to start reading from my earliest updates, scroll down to the bottom of the page and work your way up.

September 8, 2015, 11 AM EDT

Correction on location of Woodmansie Wildfire. After reading more reports (media and otherwise), the location of the Woodmansie Wildfire is on the border of Ocean and Burlington Counties in New Jersey. The fire, that started yesterday afternoon, has burned about 1,000 acres (maybe less) and is at 50 percent containment as I write this.  It is expected that the fire will be contained at under 1,000 acres. Of course that figure may change depending on what happens today. No residences are threatened and there are no injuries.

Approximate location of Woodsmansie Wildfire- Burlington-Ocean Counties, NJ

Obtained on 09/08/15 from http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/activefiremaps.php?sensor=modis&op=maps&rCode=ema 

The fire is located at the little red dot in the image that I obtained from the eastern area active fire maps on September 8, 2015, if you go to that link you will be able to click on the map to get a closer view. If you are arriving here later, you may go to the link and if you look under archives you should be able to access the above map.

In their report on the fire earlier this morning, 6ABC Philadelphia -- no longer available -- included a statement from the Ocean County Sheriff's Department speaking to the location of the fire on Monday night (September 7, 2015) "... on the Burlington County/Ocean County just north of Route 72 just west of Route 539. ..."

Two reports on the fire:
CBS3 Philly (updated at 4:30 PM on September 8th)
4NBC NYC (with video) (report on scent of smoke in Brooklyn and Queens)

As I write this the latest update (September 7th at 10 PM) from the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page reports that in addition to Charlie 1 (Air Tractor 602) who worked the fire yesterday, a helicopter with bucket dropped on the fire. As I write this, the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page has a couple of photos posted from the fire, just scroll down a bit (below the fire report) to see the photos.

September 7, 2015; 8:40 PM EDT

According to the latest update on the Woodmansie Wildfire (Woodland Township, Burlington County NJ) from the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page (7:02 PM EDT) is that approximately 80 to 100 acres have burned with heavy spotting. My friends from Downstown Aero report that Charlie 1 (Air Tractor 602) made 11 drops on the fire before darkness set in.

CBS2NYC report
NJ Advance Media report (video no longer available on May 2, 2016, but the article and photos are still available)


September 7, 2015; 5:52 PM EDT 

I understand from the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page that a Downstown Aero SEAT is working the Woodmansie Fire. No Structures are threatened at this time.

September 7, 2015; 5:05 PM EDT

This just in. Thanks to my friend at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page for alerting me to a wildfire currently burning in in Woodland Township NJ in Burlington County (Section B5).

According to the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page the Woodmansie Wildfire has burned an estimated 60 to 80 acres near Clayton Sand Pit Lake near Woodmasnie. Crews from NJ Forest Fire Service Section B5 and B6 are working the fire. Two 450 dozers are working the fire and an observation helicopter is (or was) in the air. The incident command post is set up at Coyle Field.

At the time I am writing this, I don't have any media reports to link to.

Have a safe Labor Day everyone

I am taking a time out on this Labor Day holiday in America. I know that there are many wildland firefighters and support crews working wildfires in the western United States and elsewhere. Stay safe everyone.

Thank-you tankers and helos working western wildfires

I have been been recently reflecting on the very important role of air tankers (multi-engine and SEATs), helicopters, and lead planes in flying the western wildfires in support of the wildland firefighters on the ground. Thanks to my friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page's Fire Videos of the Week I found two nice videos to share with you today. Both videos are under two minutes. These videos provide a very brief glimpse into all the great work that the air crews are doing out west. As you look at these videos, please consider that are a number of aircraft working these fires, and thier pilots and support crews are doing a great job. Stay safe and thanks for all you are doing to keep us safe.

In the first video you will see one of Erickson's tankers (not sure which one) and one of Neptunes Tankers (I believe it is a BAe-146, T-40) and a lead plane working the Cove Palisades Fire in Oregon on August 29, 2015.


direct link to video

The second video is shot by a helmet Go-Pro Camera from a Washington National Guard Blackhawk Helicopter with a 660 gallon bambi bucket. The Blackhawk was wokring the First Creek Fire near Chelan Washington.


direct link to video

Reflections on the wildland firefighters fighting the western wildfires

I have been thinking a lot about all the wildland firefighting crews on the ground fighting the wildfires out west. Never having been any kind of firefighter, I can't imagine what it is like for them. Fortunately, I have a couple of sites with some great photos of some of these wildland firefighters that I'll share with you in a moment.

I'd like to be able some apprropriately worded reflections for you to go with the title of the blog post. However, I don't think that I have the words. But I do think that photos are more appropriate. A famous proverb applies here, one picture is worth a thousand words.

Last night I was the on the King5 (western Washington) website when I came across a wonderful photo gallery of still photographs of some of the wildland firefighters that have been working the Chelan wildfires in Washington. I just have to share this with you. My favorite photo is the first photo that you will see. Knowing that inciweb often has photos on their incident pages, I am also sharing the photopage link for the Okanagon Complex.

King5 Photo Gallery: Heros on the fire lines
Inciweb-Okanogan Complex Photographs

Thank-you all wildland firefighters, on the ground and in the air and your support crews. Stay safe.

In Memory of Tanker 09: not forgotten

In Memory of Tanker 09 and her crew lost on September 1, 2008


direct link to video on youtube

In early April of 2009 I had only been writing this blog on aerial wildland firefighting for less then three months when I learned about the loss of Tanker 9 on September 1, 2008. I think of the crew of Tanker 09 often. When I was reminded earlier today that today is the seventh anniversary of the loss of Tanker 09, I thought it only right to pause and remember the crew of Tanker 9 who died that day at Stead Airbase near Reno, Nevada.

Gene Wahlstrom, 61, Captain of T-09.  He was the chief pilot for Neptune Aviation with over 25 years in the aviation industry.


Greg “Gonzo” Gonsloroski, 41, First Officer of T-09, received his type rating on the P2V in the spring of 2006 and was well on his way to becoming an air tanker Captain.


Zachary VanderGriend, 25, an airframe and powerplant mechanic, was fairly new to Neptune. He got his private pilot’s certificate at the age of 17.


Tanker 09, registration number N4235T, serial number 150282, model number SP-2H, date of manufacture: 1962. Owned and operated by Neptune Aviation, Missoula, Montana.

I won't forget. May you continue to fly in favorable tail winds.