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, November 02, 2020

A behind the scenes look at helibase operations

I have posted extensively over the years about the variety of things that helicopters do aid wildland firefighters during and after wildfires. The helicopters may be based at a permanent or a temporary helibase. I was quite interested when I came upon this video offering me a behind the scenes look at one helibase operation. I knew that some of you would be interested as well.

Watch and listen to Helibase Manager Trainee Jerek Bickford of Montrose Helitack offer a behind the scenes look at helibase operations for the Cameron Peak Fire. As I write this, the Cameron Peak Fire has burned 208.913 acres in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee Grassland. The fire has been burning for over two months. To read more about this fire, check out this link of tagged files from Bill Gabbert's Wildfire Today website.

Matt this if for you, you would love this. RIP and I know that you flying with the helos in favorable tail winds.