Two Single Engine Airtankers in fatal collision over Bishop Fire

On July 30th at 12:55 pm local time, two single-engine airtankers were involved in a mid-air collision while working the Bishop Fire, burning near Caliente, Nevada. Each SEAT had one pilot, neither survived. As of last night, recovery efforts are underway and the names of the two deceased pilots and the company they flew for had not been released. The SEATs were under contract to the U.S. Department of the Interior. For more information, see this July 31st press release from the Nevada office of the Bureau of Land Management. 

My heartfelt prayers go out to the pilot's family, friends, colleagues, and all who love them. In addition, I offer my prayers for all those working the Bishop Fire, and those in the Ely Nevada BLM office.

May the pilots and their SEATs always fly in favorable winds.

2020 wildfire season: July 29th

It is getting towards the end of July and I expect that many of you know that there is a lot of wildfire activity in the western portion of the United States. Many of you follow Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today, where he reports on a variety of current news affecting the wildfire community including reporting on many of the wildfires burning in the United States. For example two of the many recent wildfires he has reported on are the Caldwell Fire that has burned at least  67,789 acres and the Gold Fire, burning at least 21,000 acres  )

Another good source of current wildfire news is Mike Archer’s Wildfire News of the Day (WNOTD), a summary with links to current news and other articles of interest to the wildfire community including but not limited to current wildfires. Mike sends out his WNOTD emails to his subscribers Monday through Friday. Mike posted articles about the Caldwell and Gold Fires in the WNOTD I received on July 28th:

Caldwell Fire from kdrv, Mike's link expired but a quick search found a newer article: 

Gold Fire from ktvn

Large air tankers are working out west. As I write this there are a total of 28 large air tankers including two C-130 MAFF’s from the Air National Guard, the largest number of active  large air tankers in many years.  (see Bill Gabbert’s July 22nd article on Fire Aviation about the MAFFs activation. Bill has posted several articles on Fire Aviation in July 2020 showing some great photography of air tankers in action. 

I have often found good fire photography on incident pages on Inciweb, taken by firefighters working the fire, see for example Blue River 2 (28,051, last updated July10th) and Bringham Fire (23,142) acres, last updated on July 20th ), both wildfires are in Arizona. 

When I am following wildfires in my area or elsewhere I check my wildfire related bookmarks and may search the internet for more information on a given wildfire, often for my own curiosity and not for this blog. I may do so even when the wildfire is covered by some of the sources that I have already mentioned. Too numerous to list and specific sites will vary depending on the location of the wildfire: local media, state fire agencies, federal and state lands, private Facebook and Instagram groups, etc. Some of those sites will have good fire photography.

Air Tanker History: Neptune Aviation's P2-V Lockheed Tanker 14 (retired Oct. 2017)

I am in the mood for a little bit of recent tanker history and remembered this video, by Bob Webb featuring the now retired Tanker 14. See my April 1st article for a little more about the retirement of Neptune's P2-V tankers. Enjoy, the video is a little over eight minutes long.

Direct link to You Tube video by Bob Webb

2020 New Jersey wildfire season: a small wildfire in oppressive heat (July 19)

On other occasions I have written here that there are many wildfires in New Jersey and elsewhere in the Mid-Atlantic that I do not know about. I say this again because I want all wildland firefighters in New Jersey and adjoining and near by States to know that I care and rarely a day goes by when I am not thinking of you and saying a quick prayer in my own way that you may be safe.

I am thankful for what the wildland firefighters in the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) and your colleagues in adjoining States do to keep us safe from wildfires. You are the best!

As some of you know, we had some very hot and humid weather in New Jersey this past week, especially Sunday July 19th and Monday July 20th. Temperatures were in the mid to upper 90s with heat indices near or about 105° F. I admit that I may not have been thinking of all of you who are wildland firefighters who may have been out there on that day fighting wildfires, no matter how large or small. This is what you do, you fight wildfires and when you get the call, you put on your gear and assemble your tools and go. During this Covid-19 pandemic, you are also following the safety guidelines set up by your agency.

I suspect that there were several of you in various Mid-Atlantic States who may have been fighting wildfires during the recent very oppressive heat, thank-you! The impetus for this post was reading a post on Facebook by NJFFS Section B10 about a seven-acre that their Section fought on Sunday, July 19th near Monroe Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The fire was contained by the end of the day and was likely caused by a fallen  high tension wire. The Monroe Township Fire Department provided Section B10 with assistance in fighting this wildfire. Great work everyone containing this fire by the end of the day. 

As I am neither a wildland firefighter or a structure firefighter I can not know what it is really like to fight a wildfire during oppressive heat or during the winter in the cold and the wind. I write this to again remind you that I always think of wildland firefighters with a thankful heart for fighting wildfires during challenging weather conditions. As well as the conditions posed by larger wildfires. 

2020 wildfire season: ground and aerial assets fight a small brush fire in southern california

Thanks to my friends at the NJ Forest Fire Service Section B10 Homepage who post several videos of the week each weekend showcasing wildland firefighting action. I spent some time today looking for some nice footage to show you of air tankers and helicopters working wildfires, assisting the wildland firefighters on the ground. I admit to focusing on larger wildfires that I know of but found nothing that I wanted to show you. I kept looking and found this nice seven minute video on the NJFFS Section B10 Videos of the week page. It was perfect, showing tankers and helos and some firefighters on the ground. The plus is that they were working a small two-acre brush fire, probably on initial attack. I do not know the final figures for this particular fire, but that does not matter. What matters is that aerial and ground assets were working a very small brush fire. You will want to read the about this video section in the direct link below. The CAL Fire Riverside unit responded to this fire that burned near Perris, California (Riverside County) east of Los Angeles in July 2020.

Direct link to video on Youtube by Loud Labs

2020 wildfire Season: IMET deployments (July 4 to July 19th)

Wildfires have been ramping up in the western portion of the United States and this means that NWS Incident Meteorologists (IMET) continue to be deployed on assignments that can last up to two weeks. Information on IMET deployments is obtained from the US National Weather Service IMET Facebook Page. Unless otherwise specified, all fire size information comes from Inciweb. IMETs save lives, thanks to all the IMETs whether you are currently in the field, awaiting deployment or returned from deployment.

Deployments that may have ended:

On July 5 an IMET from the US NWS Western Region Headquarters was deployed to the Polles Fire in the Tonto National Forest near Payson, Arizona. As I write this the fire has burned 628 acres and is reported to be at 92 percent containment (last update on July 15th)

On July 6 an IMET from the US NWS San Francisco Bay Area/Monterey California Weather Forecast Office was deployed to the Crews Fire (CAL Fire incident) near Gilroy, California. CAL Fire reports that the fire burned 5,513 acres and was extinguished on July 13th.

Two IMETs were deployed on July 7th. A US NWS IMET from the Tucson, Arizona Weather Forecast Office was deployed to the Bighorn Fire in the Coronado National Forest near Tucson, Arizona, 119,741 acres have burned. Here is a July 2nd story from KOLD featuring an IMET reporting on heavy monsoon like rains. While this report is now dated, it illustrates the importance of the work of IMETs. A second IMET, this one from the US NWS Weather Forecast Office in Reno Nevada was deployed to the Numbers Fire. The Numbers Fire is reported to be 100 percent contained, having burned 18,380 acres (last updated on July 13th).

Deployments in the last week:

No deployments that I know of from July 8 through July 13th.

An IMET from the US NWS Weather Forecast Office in Hanford, California was deployed to the Mineral Fire on July 14. The Mineral Fire is a CAL Fire incident, having burned 28,221 acres near Coalinga, California.

On July 15th, two IMETS were deployed. The first IMET was from the US NWS Weather Forecast Office in Flagstaff, Arizona, deployed to the Turkey Farm Road Fire near St. George, Utah. The fire is burning on Utah State Lands, as of July 16th the fire had mapped at 11,993 acres according to a July 18th report from Utah Fire Info. The fire was caused by fireworks, human caused. 

The second IMET deployed on July 15th came from the US NWS at Albuquerque New Mexico, deployed to the Blue River 2 fire near San Carlos, Arizona. The fire which has burned 28,51 acres, is burning on lands of the San Carlos Apache Nation.

On July 16th, a US NWS IMET from the Flagstaff Arizona Weather Forecast Office was deployed to the Big Summit Fire near Panaca, Nevada. 8,461 acres have burned to date.

On July 19th an IMET from the US NWS Weather Forecast Office in Reno, Nevada was deployed to the Hog Fire (a CAL Fire Incident) that has burned 5,800 acres near Susanville, California.

About being a volunteer firefighter and NJFFS wildland firefighter: from a retired NJFFS State Warden

Perhaps some of you reading this are wondering what is like to be a volunteer firefighter and/or a wildland firefighter in New Jersey. Others of you may just be curious, as I always am, about learning more about the world of firefighting. If so, then you will enjoy this 39 minute video by PintheQ Productions where he interviews former State Fire Warden (with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service), Maris Gabliks. Maris is also an active member and past president (and former chief) of the Adelphia Fire Company located in Howell Township (Monmouth County, NJ). The gentleman at PintheQ Productions, does documentaries focusing on firefighting. Enjoy.

Direct link to PintheQ Productions Episode 39 on Maris Gabliks

Dozers working wildfires in Florida

One of the types of equipment that wildland firefighters on the ground use to fight wildfires are bull dozers. In the theory that a picture is worth a thousand words, I wanted to find some footage for you. And as I am from the east coast of the United States, I wanted to find some footage of dozers from one of the east coast states. I was in luck when I found three short videos showing dozers in action from Florida. As with any type of wildland firefighting, working a dozer is not without some risk. Kudos all dozer operators. Thanks for keeping us safe.

Direct link to video from Bill Oke

Direct link to video from First Due Fire Photography

Direct link to video from First Due Fire Photography

2020 New Jersey wildfire season: L Field Fire photos

I wrote about the L Field Fire on Friday July 10th. I took some down time this weekend. This morning, I was catching up with news from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) to see what has been going on since Friday when I saw a post on the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (July 10th at 3:57 PM) with some photos of the L Field Fire that burned 204 acres in the Colliers Mills Wildland Management Area. The fire was fully contained thanks to the good work of the NJFFS crews with help from Friday's rains. I thought that you might like to see the posted photos so I am embedding the July 10th Facebook post from the NJFFS at the end of this e-mail. Nice job and thanks to all NJFFS crews on the ground and in the air along with any mutual aid for working to contain this fire, with the help of Friday's rain.

I want to pause to remind everyone that the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, like any other agency fights a lot of very small fires. In the case of the NJFFS, I believe that wildfires or brush fires can be as small as 1/4 of an acre. I have no statistics to share with on this years fires, but I suspect that there are a lot of smaller fires, by this I mean fires under 10 acres. NJFFS crews work just as hard on these small brush fires as they do on the larger wildfires. I may not know about most of these smaller brush fires, that doesn't matter. I know that you are there working these fires, some of which may have been close to my home. They are doing what they do to keep their residents in New Jersey safe. So, this resident wants to pause and say thank-you NJFFS for keeping us safe.

2020 New Jersey wildfire season: L Field Fire (July 9th)

I want to thank a knowledgeable friend for telling me about the L Field Fire that was first reported by a New Jersey Forest Fire Service aircraft on July 9th. At last report from my friends at the NJFFS Section B10 (note this page may be revised in a day or so) the L Field Fire has burned 204 acres and was at 80 percent containment in the Collier Mills Wildlife Management Area near the Cassville section of Jackson NJ. The fire was large enough that a staging area was set up at a Church on Route 528 near the fire. I also understand that one of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service helicopters, Delta 3 flew the fire yesterday.

As I write this the rains from Tropical Storm Fay have impacted all of New Jersey, so I expect that the L Field Fire may be fully contained.  It burned in a remote section of the Colliers Mill WMA and no structures were threatened. I do not know exactly where the L Field Fire was located, but I saved an image from Google Earth for you so you can get a sense of where the fire was located.

More information about this fire may be obtained from the following media sites.

MidJerseyNews (July 9th) with pictures

Asbury Park Press  (July 9th) with a photo

New Jersey Advance Media (July 10th)

Thanks to all the firefighters on the ground and in the air who worked to contain this fire before the rains came.

2019 wildfire season: Engine 606 crew video

Enjoy this video summarizing the 2019 season of the US Forest Service engine 606 crew. Engine 606 is out of Minturn, Colorado.

Direct link to video on Youtube

2020 wildfire season: Tankers, SEATs and Helicopters on Federal Contract

One of my go to places to find out about Federal firefighting aviation contracts is Bill Gabbert's Fire Aviation where he writes extensively about contracting, here is a link to articles that Bill has tagged as about contracting. I check his Fire Aviation website a few times a week. While media outlets may cover local to them Federal firefighting aviation contracts, and various publications may focus on contracts affecting the type of aircraft they write about, Bill offers one stop shopping, so to speak. 

As I write a blog on aerial wildland firefighting, I want to spend a little time highlighting some of Bill's posts on the status of federal contracts for  air tankers, single-engine airtankers (SEATs) and helicopters. Bill kudos to you for the great job you do with following the contracts. 

Air Tankers

Exclusive Use Contracts: I refer you to Bill's May 2nd post on Fire Aviation. The US Forest Service has thirteen air tankers on Exclusive Use Contracts with a mandatory availability period (MAP) of 160 days. Start dates range from March 12 to May 19.

• 2 DC-10 tankers (10 Tanker)
• 1 C130Q (Coulson)
• 2 MD-87 tankers (Aero Air)
• 4 RJ85 tankers (Aero Flite)
• 4 BAe tankers (Neptune Aviation)

Call When Needed Activations: You will want to read Bill's July 2nd article on call when needed (CWN) activations. There are eleven tankers under CWN contract with a 90 day mandatory availability period of 90 days with start dates ranging from the end of May through the middle of June.

• 1 DC-10 tanker (10 Tanker)
• 4 MD-87 tankers (Aero Air)
• 1 Boeing 737 tanker (Coulson)
• 5 BAe-146 tankers (Neptune Aviation)

Adding the eleven tankers on exclusive use contract to the thirteen tankers on CWN contract and you get 24 air tankers that will be available for much of the wildfire season. 

Single-Engine Air Tankers (SEATs): According to Bill's April 13th article on Fire Aviation there will be thirty-four SEATs on contract with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Helicopters: Bill has written several articles in the last couple of months about the status of helicopter contracts. I refer you to what I think is the latest article that he wrote on May 30th where he reported on thirty-six helicopters on contract with the US Forest Service. Specifically, there are twenty-four type 1 helicopters and twelve type 2 helicopters on 90 day exclusive use contract with the US Forest Service. I will leave you to read Bill's article for a table where he lists the thirty-six helicopters on contract.

Bill Gabbert reports in a March 26th article (scroll down for the discussion) that the number of large air tankers on contract since 2013 has ranged from a low of 13 to a high of 21.  I admit to not knowing the history of the SEAT and helicopter contracts at the present time.

I am thankful for these aerial resources on contract to help the firefighters on the ground. Stay safe and thanks to the pilots, and support staff. 

RIP: 14 wildland firefighters died at South Canyon Fire (July 6, 1994)

On July 6, 1994 the South Canyon Fire on Storm King Mountain in Colorado blew up and the winds shifted. Fourteen wildland firefighters died in that day: nine from the Prineville Hotshots, three smokejumpers and two helitack crew members. I will always remember this fire because in the very early days of doing this blog, I was doing a lot of reading. I came across John N. Maclean's book, Fire on the Mountain. I probably read the book sometime in late 2008 or early 2009. It made an impression on me for the shear number of lives lost that day. To read more about the South Canyon Fire, go to this page on Always Remember

RIP Storm King 14. I will always remember.

IMET deployments (July 3)

National Weather Service (NWS)  Incident Meteorologists (IMET) continue to be deployed to wildfires. Thank-you IMETs for your work on wildfires to keep the firefighters safe. IMETs save lives. Deployments are for no longer then two weeks. Here are the deployments since June 16th. Note the variation in fire size in the list below.

On June 17, US National Weather Service Tucson Arizona IMET was deployed to the Bighorn Fire that was burning in the Coronado National Forest near Oro Valley, AZ. As I write this the Bighorn Fire has burned 118,804 acres.

On June 19, an IMET from the US National Weather Service Cheyenne Wyoming was deployed to the Sand Creek Fire. I wrote about the Sand Creek Fire here. The Sand Creek Fire has burned 97 acres in a remote section of the San Juan Forest near Durango, Colorado.

An US National Weather Service IMET from the El Paso Texas NWS Weather Forecast Office was deployed to the Vics Peak Fire on June 25th. The Vics Peak Fire has burned 11,463 acres in the Cibola National Forest and National Grassland near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.

An IMET from the US National Weather Service Reno Nevada was deployed to the Monarch Fire on June 25. The Monarch Fire has burned 2,324 acres. The Monarch Fire is near Carson City, Nevada.

On June 29, an IMET from the US National Weather Service Las Vagas, Nevada was deployed to the Mahogany Fire in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest near Mt. Charleston, Nevada. The Mahogany Fire has burned 2,794 acres.

On June 29, an IMET from the US National Weather Service in Salt Lake City, Utah was deployed to the Canal Fire near Oak City, Utah. The Canal Fire has burned 76,647 acres.

Finally, on June 30 an US National Weather Service IMET from the Flagstaff Arizona Weather Forecast Office was deployed to the Wood Springs 2 Fire near Ganado, Arizona. This wildfire has burned 11,857 acres.

What NWS Incident Meteorologists (IMETs) do on a wildfire from an IMET

I was perusing the NWS IMET Facebook page this morning to see what our wonderful Incident Meteorologist (IMETs) are doing. I saw that more IMETs have been deployed to wildfires, I will get to that on Friday. I am always looking for good videos about what IMETs do so when I came across this video by IMET Tom Bird on the NWS IMET Facebook page I knew that had to share it with you. Mr. Bird is a Meteorologist from the El Paso-Santa Teresa Weather Weather Forecast Office, as I write this, is assigned as an Incident Meteorologist to the Vics Peak Fire.

The video takes just under eleven minutes. It is a great video, as he explains in simple language about why IMETs are important and about the tools they use. He shows you some of the computer programs that he uses from the NWS as well as other weather sites and some of the tools that he carries with him in his belt pack. IMETs save lives.