2018 wildfire season: Mad River Hotshots

In November 2018, I had shared a nice video summarizing the Mad River Hotshots 2018 fire season. Unfortunately it is no longer available.

Neptune Aviation Tankers with some SEATs

I have been writing this blog on aerial wildland firefighting for almost ten years now. I began writing about wildfires in fall of 2008 moving into learning about and writing about tankers and helicopters used to fight wildfires in early 2009. When I was first wrote about airtankers in 2009, among the tankers that I first learned about were Neptune Aviation's P-2V tankers and Aero Union's P-3 tankers. Both of these contractors had Exclusive Use Contracts with the US Forest Service in those days. The US Forest Service terminated it's contract with Aero Union's P-3 tankers in August 2011.

Neptune Aviation is still around but the last of their Lockheed P-2V Tankers retired at the end of the 2017 season. Neptune Aviation started flying BAe-146 tankers a few years, now their entire tanker fleet are BAe-146 tankers.

For no particular reason, I have been thinking of the Neptune Aviation tankers that I have known, the now retire P-2V tanker and the BAe-146 tankers. So I am sharing some videos with you today, with some SEATs thrown in. Gotta love the very versatile SEATs.


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Tanker and helicopter wildfire footage (late November 2018 edition)

I started this blog to focus on aerial wildland firefighting. As regular readers know, I delve into related issues. But today I want to get back to tankers and helicopters working wildfires. To that end I have a few videos that I want to embed here to share with you. Before I do, I want to acknowledge that I need to rewrite my airtankers 101 page, something that I will work on over the next several weeks. Please be patient as I revise that page.

Now to the videos. In this first video, you will see a few different types of airtankers working wildfires. I believe that among the airtankers you will see in this video are: Neptune Aviation BAe-146, Global Supertanker 747, Aero Air MD-87, Canadair CL-415 Scooper, and 10 Tanker DC-10.


Direct link to video

In this video you will see the Contra Costa County Sheriff's STARR1 helicopter working a wildfire.


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Los Angeles County Fire Department Helicopter, Copter 14, working a brush fire in Los Angeles County California area on or about October 14, 2018.


Direct link to video

2018 wildfire season: California wildfires (Nov 23rd) Camp & Woolsey Fires

The Woolsey Fire burned 99.949 acres and is at 100 percent containment. Three firefighters were injured and 3 civilians died. 1,500 structures were destroyed and 341 were damaged. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

As I write this, here are the stats for the Camp Fire:

• 153,336 acres burned, at 95 percent containment. 
• 13,672 single residences destroyed, 465 single residences damaged, 282 multiple residences destroyed, 514 commercial structures destroyed, 105 commercial structures damaged, 4,265 minor structures destroyed.
• Three firefighter injuries.
• 84 civilian fatalities to date.
• cause under investigation.

In the last couple of days, it rained in the area of the Camp Fire which helped firefighters to contain the fire.  Perhaps the rain has hampered or slowed down the search and rescue efforts as the search for the missing continues and the death count climbs.

I saw this video on the Sacamento Bee the other day and wanted to share it with you. In this five minute video you will hear Cheryl talk about how she survived the Camp Fire with her cat. She was rescued two days after the fire broke out.

Direct link to Sacramento Bee story and video

Thanksgiving wishes and remembrances

On the eve of this Thanksgiving holiday in America:

• For all who are traveling, I wish you safe travels.
• For those of you spending the holiday with your family and/or friends, enjoy the moment.
• For wildland firefighters on the ground and in the air working wildfires this holiday weekend, you are away from your families. Stay safe and thank-you.
• More and more people are working this weekend, perhaps in hospitals or police fire and ambulance service. the National Weather Service is a 24/7 operation, some will be on shift on Thanksgiving. Others in retail or other service positions. Hopefully if you celebrate Thanksgiving, you celebrate before or after work. Know that your work is appreciated.
• Thank-you to all of you in the military who are away from your family and friends overseas. Thank-you for your sacrifice and your service.

I am aware that for many there is little to be thankful for. For some it is because you are alone and have no place to go. Thousands of you have had your homes burned in wildfires, some of you are with your families, and others of you are in shelters or camps. Hundreds if not thousands of you have been affected by recent typhoons and hurricanes and your home may be completely destroyed or not habitable, perhaps you are still in a shelter or camp or making do the best you can on your property

2018 wildfire season: California wildfires (Nov 19th)

Woolsey Fire (Thousand Oaks CA): 3 dead, 1,500 structures destroyed As I write this this 96,649 acre fire is at 94 percent containment,

Camp Fire (Paradise CA):As I write this, 77 people are dead, several hundred are missing, 11,713 homes destroyed, 277 multiples residences destroyed472 commercial buildings destroyed. The fire has burned 150,000 acres to date and is at 65 percent containment. Helicopters are working the fire in support of wildland firefighters on the ground. Search and rescue crews continue to search for the missing.

NPR report on the fires (November 19th)

To make matters even more uncomfortable for those who are homeless after the Camp Fire, there are outbreaks of the Noro Virus (aka stomach flu) at some of the shelters.


Direct link to video

Like a lot of people, I think about the residents of Paradise CA everyday, often multiple times a day as well as all the firefighters, search and rescue teams, and those supporting those who are homeless and perhaps sick from the Noro Virus.

I offer these videos as an act of remembrance for all those who have lost homes, have missing loved ones, whose loved ones have died, search and rescue teams, those supporting the victims of the fire, and all wildland firefighters on the ground and in the air. The first video is a video report from ABC News on or about November 13th reporting on survivors of the Camp and Woolsey Fires.The second video (from the Sacramento Bee)below may be a little hard to look at, they are describing how search and rescue teams look for human remains, The third video, also from the Sacramento Bee is an authorized drone fly over of Paradise CA on or about November 13th


Direct link  to video from ABC News (November 13th)


Direct link to video from Sacramento Bee (November 16th)



Direct link to video from the Sacramento Bee (November 13th)

SEAT footage from the cockpit (2015)

Enjoy this footage from the cockpit of a Single Engine Airtanker (SEAT) shot from the cockpit while working the 2015 Windy Ridge Fire on August 12, 2015. This footage was uploaded to Youtube by the Bureau of Land Management in Oregon (BLMOregon).


Direct link to video from BLMOregon on Youtube

2018 wildfire season: California wildfires (Nov 13th update)

Here is a CBS news report uploaded to Youtube on November. So, I assume that the information in the video is current as of November 13th. A CBS Meteorologist discusses how the weather is affecting the current wildfires burning in California, ending with a discussion on climate change. The video is about seven minutes long.

My thoughts and meditations are with all those affected by the wildfires. Condolences for the loved ones of those who have died. Thanks to all the wildland firefighters on the ground and in the air who are working hard in awful conditions to fight these wildfires.

Latest information from CAL FIRE
Camp Fire
Woolsey Fire
Hill Fire


Direct link to video on Youtube

2018 wildfire season: California wildfires (November)

At least 25 people dead, 23 from the Camp Fire and 2 from the Woolsey Fire.

Link to interactive map of the current Califonia Wildfires from CAL FIRE

2018 wildfire season: Camp Fire (Paradise CA)

The Camp Fire, one of three large wildfires burning in California. was first reported on Thursday, November 9th. Over 6,400 homes destroyed. At least 9 people are dead, 35 are missing. It has burned about 90,000 acres and is at 5 percent containmentSome of the deaths were people in their cars trying to evacuate this very fast moving fire. In however you reflect on these tragedies, please pause for a few minutes to remember the dead. And to remember the wildland firefighters on the ground working to fight this fire, that they be safe.

RIP, may you always fly in favorable tail winds.



Direct link to video from KPIX SF Bay Area

The Washington Post has some stunning photos from the Camp Fire and other fires burning in California

This just in, according to the Washington Post, the death toll in the wildfires burning in California is now 11.

Those of you who are interested in knowing more about the three wildfires burning in California, Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today is covering the fire, his latest article on the Camp Fire may be found here, and he also reported on the Woolsey Fire and an earlier article on the Hill and Woolsey Fires

2018 fire season: Midewin Hotshots

Enjoy this video by the Midewin Hotshots highlighting thier 2018 fire season.


Direct link to video by Midewin Hotshots

Reflections on learning about aerial firefighting almost 10 years ago

After  i wrote about P-2 Neptune tankers the other day, I spent some time reflecting on first learning about the business of aerial firefighting nine and ten years ago. I am eternally grateful to some now good friends who helped me learn about the business. I spent a lot of time watching live stream coverage of some of the larger wildfires that were burning in southern California in mid to late 2009. A couple of times, I was watching the live stream as I was exchanging e-mails with one of my former tanker pilot friends. He would share a little about what was going on. I enjoyed seeing the tankers and helos in action, working to help the wildland firefighters on the ground. As they say, one picture is worth a thousand words. The video that I am sharing below is from Alan Simmons of Firestorm HD Production. He uploaded the video to Youtube in April 2010. I believe that at least some of the fire footage is from 2009, perhaps there is footage of some of the wildfires that I was following in 2009. Alan’s footage is a highlight video from a longer DVD that he put out, go here for more information on the video that is available for purchase only. 

I love watching videos like Alan’s of tankers working a wildfire. Elegance in action. What they do is very dangerous. Please remember that if it is very windy or the smoke is very bad tankers and helicopters may not be flying the fire because it is not safe to do so.

The video from Alan Simmons that I have embedded below has about eight minutes of highlights from his 80 minute video. In the first half, you will see footage of the S-2T, P-2 Neptunes, P-3 Orion, Canadair 215/415, and the DC-10. The final three or four minutes includes footage from 1999 of now historic tankers including some footage of T-123 which crashed in 2002.

Direct link to video from Alan Simmons on Youtube

Remembering P-2 Neptune Tankers, retired but not forgotten

The last of Neptune Aviation's Lockheed P-2 Neptune tankers were retired in the fall of 2017. When I began this blog on aerial wildland firefighting in late 2008, I learned about what tankers can do through seeing videos, photographs and some livestream of you and your cousin, Aero Unions Lockheed P-3 Orions fly fires.

You and your crew worked hard over the years, you saved a lot of lives. We lost some of you and your crew -- T-11 T-42, T-9, T-4, T-8 -- your service and sacrifice will not be forgotten.

We lost Minden Air T-99. Minden Air T-55 and T-48 were both damaged in an incident, the crew survived. All were Lockheed P-2 Neptunes

These three videos by scorched sky productions honor the service of Neptune Aviation's Lockheed P-2 Neptune tankers.

It is my loss that I never had the privilege of seeing any of you in person while you were in service flying fires. Some of you are at air museums, perhaps I'll see you there.


Direct link to video by Scroched Sky Production


Direct link to video by Scroched Sky Production



Direct link to video by Scroched Sky Production

2018 fire season: Redmond Hotshots

Yesterday I shared a 2016 video about the Redmond (OR) Air Center. The Redmond Interagency Hotshots are based at the Redmond Air Center. I hope you enjoy their 2018 crew video summarizing their 2018 fire season.


direct link to video on Youtube

About Redmond (OR) Air Center

Enjoy this 2016 video by the US Forest Service about the Air Center in Redmond Oregon. In this four minute video you will get a brief overview of the various wildfire services based at Redmond: hotshots, smoke jumpers, air tankers, cache, and a training center


direct link to Youtube video by the US Forest Service