New Jersey: stage 2 campfire restrictions and high fire danger in southern NJ

The New Jersey Forest Service (NJFFS) has implemented stage 2 campfire restrictions in Division A (northern New Jersey) and Cape May, Salem, and Cumberland counties in Division C (southern New Jersey). In addition, High Fire Danger has expanded to include Division C. See this post from the NJFFS for more information. A map showing the coverage area for all the Divisions may be found on this NJFFS webpage. This map may has a lot of detail, showing the sections within the Division as well as primary and secondary response areas. However, it does not show the counties. I will list the counties included in each Division below the images.

• Division A (northern NJ) Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Warren, Hopewell Township in Mercer County, Union, Hunterdon, Middlesex (north of Raritan River)
• Division B (Central NJ: Burlington, Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex (south of the Raritan River), Mercer County except Hopewell Township
• Division C (Southern NJ): Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem

Reflections: an abnormally dry period in NJ, increased fire danger, and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service

It is a quiet but slightly warm late September day in northern New Jersey. However, after we had above average precipitation in 2018 lasting into at least the first six months of 2019, the rain faucet has been down to a trickle the last five weeks. I recorded no rain at all from August 24th through the end of that month and .85 inches to date in September. No, this is not a drought, at this point it is abnormally dry according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

There would have been a time before I started this blog eleven years ago when my only thoughts would have that I might have to pay more attention to watering some plants and shrubs and wondering how my teenaged trees are making out. Asides from the need to do more watering, I doubt if I would have given five weeks with little rain more thought. I doubt if increased fire danger would have crossed my mind. I am a different person now.

Now I am quite aware that with the lack of rainfall over the last five weeks comes an increase in fire danger. To be clear, the National Weather Service has not, to date issued any fire weather watches or red flag warnings for New Jersey and environs, but according to the New Jersey Forest Fire much of northern New Jersey (Division A) is seeing high fire danger with stage 1 camp fire restrictions in place. Stage 1 campfire restrictions mean that

Fires directly on the ground will be prohibited unless in a prepared fire ring. Fires on mineral soil which will not endanger the forest, such as in a gravel pit, may be permitted at the discretion of the Forest Firewarden issuing the permit. A prepared fire ring must be constructed of steel, stone, brick, or concrete with a gravel or masonry base.

For more information on fire danger and restrictions in New Jersey go to this NJFFS webpage.

I am very comforted to know that with what might be an early start to the fall wildfire season they have ramped up their activities across the state to keep us as safe as possible from wildfires. All fire towers in Divisions A,B, and C have been staffed at least since Wednesday, September 25th. I am fairly certain that NJFFS wildland firefighters have been doing daily patrols, at least in northern New Jersey but perhaps in central and southern New Jersey as well.  I have not heard any information about major wildfires, and if I learn of any such activity I will report back.

I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service for all that they do to keep us safe here in New Jersey.

2018 wildfire season: two fire crew videos (type 2?)

It is still a little early for 2019 fire crew videos, those will come later. In the meantime enjoy these two crew videos from the 2018 wildfire season.

I believe but am not certain that the two videos that I am embedding below are type 2 fire crews. All types of fire crews play an important role in fighting wildfires. Your work and sacrifices are important, thank-you.

Bear Jaw 2018 Fire Crew Video


Direct link to video on Youtube


North Star Fire Crew 2018 Video


Direct link to video on Youtube

Thank-you tanker and helicopter pilots for flying wildfires

Rarely a day goes by when I do not think about pilots flying tankers, helicopters, lead planes, bird dog aircraft, and observation aircraft over wildfires in support of the wildland firefighters on the ground. 

• You do what you do because you love flying and care about doing all that you can to help those on the ground. 
• You go through pre-season recurrency training as required by contract. 
• You get weather briefings before you go, if it is too windy, foggy, or there are thunderstorms in the area you won't fly.
• There are restrictions in your on-call hours, and mandated daily off-duty time and days off.
• You want to be safe when you fly and you want those on the ground to be safe. 
• You communicate with other aircraft and those on the ground to coordinate where to drop your water or retardant.
• You fly low when you make your drops.
• What you do is dangerous.
• Depending on where you are based and where your family is, you may be away from home for weeks during wildfire season. 
• If activity is slow, and you are on contract, then there may be hours when you are hanging around your base passing time, doing whatever you do to relax and pass time.

Know that you are appreciated. Words are wholly inadequate to express my gratitude for what you do and the sacrifices you make. Thank-you from the bottom of my heart.

Climate Strike Day: some words from Greta Thunberg

Today is climate strike day and in honor of all the climate strikes going on around the world, I am suspending my normal blog and asking you to reflect on the words of Greta Thunberg, a sixteen year old activist from Sweden. But before you do, please, please do check award winning cartoonist Bill Day's cartoon that I will call "is this anyway to treat to your mother." I first came across an early version of this cartoon over 25 years ago. I still have the dog eared cartoon in my home office. It always brings tears to my eyes.


Direct link to video of Greta Thunberg's TED talk on youtube

A closer look at Cal Fire's aviation program

I am a non-pilot member of the AOPA. Actually the AOPA makes no distinction between pilots and non-pilot's in their fee structure but for purposes of this blog it is important that I be clear that I am a non-pilot aviation enthusiast. The AOPA puts out a weekly video called AOPA Live, an interesting video about 25 to 30 minutes long with weekly aviation news. They do not only focus on general aviation as is evident by The AOPA Live episode on May 23, 2019. In that week's episode that had a report on CAL Fire's aviation program. Because the video was about 27 minutes long, I did not share it here. I recently found the clip devoted to Cal Fire's aviation program so I am sharing it here, a direct link to the clip from AOPA Live may be found here. AOPA Live has a youtube channel where I also found the video, and I am embedding that video below.

I like this video because you will hear from a S2-T pilot, Jimmy Ferreira about what is like to fly fires in an S2T. You will also learn about the Cal Fire program. While there are going to be differences between Cal Fire's S2T's and other tankers, Jimmy does give me an idea of what it is like to fly fires. Enjoy!

Thank-you Jimmy and stay safe.



Other links:
Cal Fire home page
Cal Fire Air Program
S2-T Air Tanker (pdf)
California Pilot's Association
California Pilot's Association Newsletters

A look at the life of a fire lookout

direct link to video on Youtube

Fire towers and their lookouts are a vanishing breed, as regular readers know we have a fire towers around New Jersey. A September 15th article on NPR by Nathan Rott, "A Fire Lookout On What's Lost in a Transition to Technology" caught my eye this morning. The article is about Phillip Connors who has been a fire lookout in the Gila National Forest for 17 summers. Phillip is also an author, having written three books, two of them based on his experiences as a fire lookout. I just got his first book, Fire Season, and look forward to reading it.

Gila National Forest has ten fire lookouts. Hikers who pass his way often ask him about satellites and drones, this is how he responded to that question in Rott's article.

'I often feel I'm in a position of having to defend my very existence here,' he says. 'People just sort of assume that the technology has advanced to a point where it would make me totally obsolete' 

There are, he says, many things he can do that a drone can't. He can sit in a tower for an entire day, watching and studying a fire's behavior. He can serve as eyes and as a communication link for fire crews working in the region's rugged terrain. He can apply his experience to put a fire in context and communicate about it in ways only a human can. 

'At $14 and change an hour, I'm also pretty cheap,'  he says.

In addition to getting to know Connor, you will also learn a little about the history of fire towers. I encourage you to spend a few minutes reading the article, there are some very nice images in the article, including some historic photos.

Relief efforts continue to the Bahamas post Hurricane Dorian

I continue to reflect upon the devastation left by Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. I am especially interested in the use of aviation assets to bring relief into the Bahamas. I will share four videos that I found on Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) about Hurricane Dorian Response.



US Navy MH-53 delivers supplies to the Bahamas


US Army CH-47 Chinook transports vehicles and supplies to US Aide Workers 


US Navy Sailors aboard a CH-53 Sea Stallion helping with Dorian relief in the Bahamas

Remembering 9/11

Eighteen years ago, I was in my office in central New Jersey when the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon occurred. All of us who were old enough to remember will always remember where we were and what we were doing when the attacks occurred. I, like many others, were at work. At the time, I worked in central New Jersey. I could swear that I saw a couple of fighter jets overhead. We all have memories of that day, mine are probably not much different from yours, although geography may make a difference.

I ask you to join me in a moment of silent remembrance for those who died in the attacks on September 11, 2001. Let us also remember all the first responders who died later as well as those who are suffering severe physical and emotional trauma. Finally, there are those either lived or worked in Manhattan or Washington who survived the attacks yet may hold some emotional scars.


Direct link to video

2019 wildfire season: IMET deployments (Sept 9th)

The deployment of NWS Incident Meteorologists (IMETs) have seen an uptick the last couple of weeks. When deployed to a wildfire, for up to two weeks, IMETs used good science to provide forecasts for the area burned by the wildfire and environs. As required, they will launch weather balloons (see the August 1st post by the NWS IMETs) on their Facebook page to watch a nice video of a balloon launch). Theu bring all the weather equipment they need to provide the latest forecasts. They do this to so that wildland firefighters and their support teams will be as safe as possible as they fight wildfires. IMETs are a national resources. While many but not all IMET deployments are in the western U.S. or in Alaska, if called upon they will come to your state to work a wildfire, IMETs have your back. For example, IMETs have been deployed to east coast states in recent years. Finally if you look at the information below the size of the wildfire varies from less than 500 acres to more than 160,000 acres.

Here are the IMET deployments since September 2 from the US National Weather Service IMET Facebook Page.

• September 3rd: US National Weather Service Pendleton Oregon IMET deployed to #402 Cow Fire, near Unity OR, 9,668 acres at 73 percent containment.
• September 3rd: US National Weather Service Anchorage Alaska IMET deployed to McKinley Fire near Willow, Alaska, 3,288 acres at 95 percent containment.
• September 4th: US National Weather Service Seattle Washington IMET deployed to Swan Lake Fire near Sterling, Alaska, 163,686 acres at  37 percent containment.
• September 6th: US National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area/Monterey California IMET deployed to Red Bank Fire near Red Bluff California, 8,838 acres at 50 percent containment.
• September 6th: US National Weather Service Sacramento California IMET deployed to Walker Fire near Taylorsville California, 43,931 acres at 7 percent containment.
• September 6th: US National Weather Service Medford Oregon IMET deployed to Gopher Fire near Medford Oregon in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
• September 7th: US National Weather Service Hanford California IMET deployed to the South Fire near Plantina California, 2,425 acres.
• September 7th: US National Weather Service Tucson Arizona IMET deployed to Neck Fire near Cedar City Utah, 18,990 acres at 30 percent containment.
• September 8th: US National Weather Service San Francisco Bay/Monterey California IMET deployed to Lime Fire near Yreka California, 1,100 acres.
• September 9th: US National Weather Service Salt Lake City IMET enroute to Meadow Creek Fire near Filmore Utah.
• September 9th: US National Weather Service San Diego IMET enroute to Taboose Fire near Big Pine California, 10,500 acres at 10 percent containment.

IMETs save lives. For all my IMET friends, stay safe and thank-you for providing good science.

U.S. Coast Guard responds to Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian

I am sure that most of you know that Hurricane Dorian hit the Bahamas last weekend as a category 5 hurricane with winds up to 185 miles per hour. Dorian stalled over parts of the Bahamas for at least a day and a half before making its way up the east coast.

My purpose here and perhaps in subsequent posts on the devastation to the Bahamas from Hurricane Dorian is to focus on the use aviation assets to respond to the Bahamas. Yesterday )September 5th) while I was doing some errands, I heard an interview on NPR with Coast Guard Vice Adm. Scott Buschman about the Coast Guard's response in the Bahamas. I was not able to hear the entire interview, but I did find a link to a segment on NPR's All Things Considered, Thursday September 5th. I am embedding a link to this segment below. For those who prefer to go directly to the NPR All Things Considered Segment that may be found here.

According to Vice Admiral Buschman,

we have eight helicopters flying from the Coast Guard, two flying from the DEA, two flying from Customs and Border Protection. We also have a number of fixed-wing aircraft that were doing some aerial reconnaissance to see what the impacted areas look like. And as of today, we actually have three Coast Guard ships there. They're helping out. They're serving as support cutters for our aircraft so the aircraft can land there and fuel. And they're doing a number of things. They're sending their boats ashore to do some assessments from land.

In the video that I embedded below (here is a direct link to the video from DVIDS), you will hear Petty Officer 3rd Class Jhonkirc, member assisting in the Hurricane Dorian relief efforts being interviewed about thee actual situation on the Abaco area Sept. 5, 2019. The Coast Guard is supporting the Bahamian National Emergency Management Agency and the Royal Bahamian Defense Force, who are leading search and rescue efforts in the Bahamas. The video is by Seaman Erik Villa Rodriguez.



In the next video you will see a Coast Guard crew being welcomed home at Air Station Clearwater. This crew was the first Coast Guard crew to be deployed to the Bahamas to aid in disaster relief in the Bahamas. Video by Petty Officer 2nd Class David Micallef. Go here for the direct link to the video from DVIDS


Finally, I am sharing a brief video report from ABC News about disaster relief in the Bahamas. ABC News sent a reporter and cameraperson who rode along on a flight by Trinity Air Ambulance to Freeport, Grand Bahama. You will see some footage from the first video.


Direct link to video from ABC News

Scoopers in Spain (2012)

I got sucked into taking care of some important but unexpected personal business that took all day. Literally.. Just done now at a little after 5 pm.

So I am sharing an old favorite video from El Grupo (2012).Enjoy


Direct link to video

Labor Day 2019

I am taking a day off from my labors on this Labor Day in the United States. Having said that, I want to remember all the first responders including but not limited to wildland firefighters for either working today or being on call. Thanks all for all you do to keep us safe.

I would also like to thank all my friends at the various National Weather Service office for working today to keep us safe, especially those putting in extra time  because of Hurricane Dorian.