Life on a hotshot crew

Join videographer Bureau of Land Management Contract Videographer Matt Irving following the Colorado Craig Interagency Hotshot crew on a fourteen day assignment. The incidents shown in the video were in California and Montana. I have seen various crew videos of Hotshot crews and learned a lot from those videos. This video gave me a different perspective as I followed the crew on the video and listened to some commentary from individual hotshots. Hotshot crews are but one of many crews fighting wildfires. There are other types of crews that may be on a fire for fourteen day assignments as well as engine crews, go to this NIFC page to learn about the different type of crews. While I notice that Hotshot crews do a lot of work on wildfires in the western U.S., they will work where needed including the eastern U.S.

Allow just under 25 minutes to watch the video, it is worth the time/ Enjoy!

Direct link to video from the National Interagency Fire Center on YouTube

Mental health challenges faced by wildland firefighters

I want to pause and acknowledge that wildland firefighters have mental health challenges. This has been on my mind for a few days now. I have struggled about how and what to share with you about mental health challenges faced by wildland firefighters. Let’s just say that part of my hesitation is because I am not now nor have I ever been a wildland firefighter so as sympathetic and supportive as I am about wildland firefighters living with mental health challenges, I can not know what it is like for wildland firefighters.  I want to respect all the challenges faced by wildland firefighters, mental health and otherwise and to be careful about writing about something I have no first hand knowledge of. In this case, it is not as simple as sharing a video. 

I know that Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today  has written extensively about mental health challenges faced by wildland firefighters, Bill’s posts tagged “mental health” may be found here  . I believe that Bill has a background as a wildland firefighter so that gives him credibility that I do not have. So if you want to learn more these mental health challenges and how they are being addressed by fire fighting agencies, I suggest that you look through Bill’s articles. Among Bill's articles that I found insightful is an article he wrote on December 26, 2021 here is an excerpt

Wildland firefighters on crews that are often deployed on endless 14-day assignments far from home may become acclimated to the high energy adrenaline-fueled environment. They are part of a team working toward the same clear objective, constructing fireline, installing hose lays, or mopping up. The goal is usually very obvious, and when done they can look back and see what they accomplished while part of a group that over months together could complete each other’s sentences. They know what each would do when faced with a pulse-elevating situation, or how they deal with boredom while waiting for a ride back to fire camp.

When the fire season is over, their environment goes through a metamorphose. Almost overnight they may find themselves with their spouse, significant other, children, parents, non-fire friends, or, alone — a completely different situation from the previous six months. Some firefighters adapt more easily than others. Those that don’t, may experience mental health issues and mild or severe depression. Spouses or children of the often-absent firefighter may also show symptoms. obtained on August, 29, 2022 from  https://wildfiretoday.com/2021/12/26/this-time-of-the-year-can-be-a-challenge-for-wildland-firefighters/)

A couple of weeks ago President Biden signed the Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022. Included in this act are benefits to families of First Responders who die by suicide after job related stress. Such suicides are now considered as dying in the line of duty making their families eligible for insurance, health benefits and the like. See this article from CBS News. About time.

2021 wildfire season: year in review from the NWCG with a focus on fire safety

One of the YouTube Channels that I follow is the channel of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. The NWCG website has a wealth of information. I am drawn to their publications listing as well as training information where I may learn about some of the initial and recurrent training that wildland firefighters go through, both are listed at the top of the page Under toolbox menu at the top of the page there is also information for the media, no I am not media, an FAQ and information for those thinking of becoming a wildland firefighter. The NWCG does many other things that I am not listing here and I go to their website and YouTube channel periodically.  I did so today and while I was there, I noticed the 2021 WFSTAR Year in Review video. I am always interested in videos such as this as it takes me up close and personal from my study in New Jersey. In addition, this is another opportunity to continue learning. Thanks to all the wildland firefighters on the ground and in the air, and support crews for fighting these wildfires and keeping us safe. Perhaps the most important thing in this video is a focus on wildland firefighter safety on the fireline. The video is about twelve minutes long and I believe it was posted on YouTube around May 2022. Enjoy.

Direct link to video from the NWCG on YouTube

Revisiting Neptune Aviation and their BAe-146 air tankers

Sometime around 2010 I first learned about the BAe-146 where one BAe-146 airplane was being developed by Tronos and later delivered to Neptune Aviation. Bill Gabbert of WildfireToday reported on September 23, 2011 that the BAe-146 received interim approval from the Interagency Air Tanker Board, he also provides some basic information about the BAe-146 and some links. I believe but am not certain that by 2015 Neptune Aviation may have had at least one BAe-146 air tanker under contract with the US Forest Service. I have no specific information on Neptune's contracts with the US Forest Service and other agencies from 2015 to 2020, but to the best of my knowledge Neptune Aviation has had contracts (exclusive use and call when needed) with the US Forest Service since then. I have no specific information about 2022 contracts, but according to Neptune Aviation's Neptune Today page (accessed on August 24, 2022) 

In 2021 Neptune Aviation provided four airtankers on Exclusive Use Contracts with the USFS, three airtankers on Call When Needed Contracts with the USFS, one airtanker on Exclusive Use Contract with CalFire, and one airtanker on Exclusive Use Contract with the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control. Neptune Aviation also had Call When Needed Contracts in Australia and Chile.

For specifications on Neptunes BAe-146 see Neptune's fact sheet on the BAe-146  (accessed August 24, 2022). Briefly, according to the fact sheet, the Bae-146 can carry up to 3,000 gallons of retardant, with a cruising speed of 400 knots, and a range of 1,100 nautical miles. For those of you who are interested, I shared a cockpit tour of the BAe-146 by Blancolirio on October 6, 2021, I learned of this video on Neptune's Facebook page.  I am embedding it below for your convenience.

Neptune Aviation has a very nice webpage with good information that you may want to spend time exploring, Neptune has a Facebook page that I believe is freely available without a Facebook account. Bill does a great job of reporting on Neptune Aviation in Fire Aviation and Wildfire Today, his Fire Aviation articles tagged BAe-146 may be found here and on the main page of either Wildfire Today or Fire Aviation you will see that he has a search function with filters that I myself have used and found it very useful, for example when I want to easily review the history of certain air tankersI myself have written some articles about the BAe-146 that I have tagged but Bill has far more articles than I do. 

Memories of air tankers in 2009 (part 2 of 2)

Direct link to video by Bob Webb on YouTube

Among the air tankers that I watched on either news streaming or YouTube in the early days of my blog in 2009 into 2010 was the Lockheed P2-V air tankers that were then under contract with Neptune Aviation. By 2017 Neptune had retired the last of their P2-V air tankers from active service, most are now in museum's around the United States. Neptune Aviation has always had a nice website chock full of information, the have a webpage about their history and a list of museums that have one or two of Neptune's historic P2-V I hope to see one of these historic air tankers in person one day. 

Neptune is now flying BAe-146 air tankers on contract with the US Forest Fire Service, other state agencies and internationally, go here for more information. I will write more about Neptune's BAe-146 air tankers sometime this week.

I close with a tribute to the P2-Vs upon the retirement of the last of Neptunes active P2-V's in 2017. This video is by Scorched Sky Productions, I shared this video and the video from Bob Webb in previous posts on my blog.

Direct link to video by Scorched Sky Productions on YouTube

Memories of air tankers in 2009 (part 1 of 2)

 It was approximately 14 years ago, August of 2008, when I first became interested in learning more about wildland firefighting. The focus of those early entries were on what I was learning. In early 2009 I began to learn about airtanker operations thanks to the help of a few friends, current and former airtanker pilots. I took you along as I learned about the airtanker business and learned about the contractors that then had contracts with the U.S. Forest Service. I cut my teeth in 2009 into 2010 by watching live stream and other videos of Aero Union's P-3's, 10 Tanker Corp's DC-10, and Evergreen's 747 tanker flying fires. most of the videos that I am embedding below were previously shared on my blog.

In 2009, Tanker 910, operated by 10 Tanker Corp was under contract with CAL Fire, see my May 16, 2009 article for more information. Tanker 910 was capable of carrying up to 12,000 gallons of retardant though I suspect that most of the time she carried less retardant. I enjoyed watching her lay down a line of retardant. 

Direct link to 2008 video uploaded by palealien on YouTube

10 Tanker Corp is still around in 2022 and continues to fly DC 10 air tankers, download their fact sheet for more information. 10 Tanker has four DC 10 tankers -- T 910, 911, 912, and 914 -- in their fleet. Her current retardant capacity is 9,400 gallons. I believe that 10 tanker corp has contracts with the US Forest Service as well as State agencies.

I will never forget watching Evergreen's 747 tanker link up and drop a long line of retardant on the 2009 Station Fire in southern California. You will have to take my word for this as the video is no longer available. I recall watching a live stream of this drop on one of the Southern California TV News outlets, awesome. While that video that so impressed me is no longer available, check out this 2009 video 

Direct link to video from elvladyman on YouTube

According Bill Gabbert's May 2, 2014 Fire Aviation post Evergreen's 747 was not under contract in 2014. Sometime later, I don't recall exactly when and I have no link at the moment, I believe that this 747 was no longer operated by Evergreen.  A newer 747 tanker, T-944,  operated by 747 supertanker  began operations sometime in 2017 and had some contracts but ceased operations in April 2021, see Bill Gabbert's April 23, 2021 article. On September 3, 2021 Bill Gabbert reported that a 747 tanker, owned by Logistic Air, is expected to return to service for wildland firefighting by late 2022, see Bill's May 4, 2022 for updated information.

Finally, I enjoyed watching AeroUnion's P-3 tanker (3,000 gallon retardant capacity) fly fires. Sadly, the U.S. Forest Service terminated its contract with Aero Union for their P-3's in August 2011 and shut down operations a few months later after selling off their assets including some of their P-3s (see my January 18, 2012 article)

Enjoy this tribute to the P-3 tanker from Scorched Sky Productions.

Direct link to video on YouTube from Scorched Sky Productions

Another air tanker company, Neptune Aviation had contracts with the US Forest Service in 2009 and is still in business  flying airtankers. I will write about Neptune Aviation on August 22. Stay Tuned

About incident meteorologists (IMETs): meet a couple of IMETs (Aug 17)

As you may know, I follow the NWS IMET Operations office on Twitter. You should not need an account on Twitter to view the posts from IMET Operations. In the last few days, they have made a couple of posts that they call "Meet our IMETs". I thought that some of you might want to read more about these IMETs. Steve Fano 

Meet our IMETs:
Meet @NWSFortWorth Incident Meteorologist Steve Fano. While he's been on 8 missions, one of his most memorable was the 2017 Brian Head fire in UT. He got an undergrad degree at @msudenver, and a masters degree at @TexasTech.
Steve is currently on a mission in TX! pic.twitter.com/sksUHmLcCh

— NWS IMET Operations (@NWS_IMET_OPS) August 11, 2022

and Dan Borsum.

Meet our IMETs:
Meet @NWSBillings Incident Meteorologist Dan Borsum. Dan has been an IMET for 20 years and is a double ace at 62 missions. He's a true servant leader of our program. Dan went to college @penn_state pic.twitter.com/rHP5AcPF7Y

— NWS IMET Operations (@NWS_IMET_OPS) August 16, 2022

Thanks to Steve Fano and Dan Borsum for your work as an IMET when you are deployed to wildfires to provide site specific forecasts those fighting the wildfires. IMETs save lives. 

New South Wales deploys Marie Bashir (737 air tanker) to United States for 2nd year in a row

In August of 2021, New South Wales (Australia) sent the Marie Bashir, a 737 air tanker to the United States for a 45 day deployment. I greatly appreciated the assistance of the Marie Basir air tanker, her pilots and the rest of her crew in helping our wildland firefighters on the ground work wildfires in the western United States. This year, the government of New South Wales is again assisting the United States by deploying the Marie Bashir to the United States to help our wildland firefighters on the ground and in the air fight wildfires. Thank-you to the crew of the Marie Bashir and the government of New South Wales for coming to our assistance.

Direct link to video from Sky News Australia on YouTube

I understand that the Marie Bashir left Australia on or about August 6th and arrived in Boise on or about August 11th. As you will see from the Facebook post from the NSW Rural Fire Service that I embedded below, she has arrived in Boise, Idaho and was flown two fires, the Four Corners Fire in Idaho and Pete's Fire in Utah. You may also want to see the news report from the Australian Rural and Regional News (August 8, 2022) for more information.

Weather update from IMET on Calf Canyon Fire (Aug 10th): learning opportunity

 I learned about the video where you will see IMET Blaine Breitreter currently assigned to the Calf Canyon Fire (341,735 acres burned at 98% containment) in the Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico. Mr Breireter is giving a weather update for August 10th on meteorological conditions that the firefighters would be facing that day. He also does a little teaching in this video which is why I am sharing this video with you. Thanks Mr. Brietreter for the video and for an opportunity to learn more about what IMETs do on wildfires. Thanks for your service and stay safe.

IMETs save lives!

Direct link to video on YouTube from the Calf Canyon & Hermits Peak Fire

2022 wildfire season: forest fires in Newfoundland (August 10th)

Direct link to video on YouTube from Global News

I have been writing about forest fires that are still burning in central Newfoundland, see my August 8th post for more information.  The two largest forest fires, the Paradise Like and the Bay d’Espoir Highway Fires remain out of control. Both fires have grown since my last update on August 8th with the Paradis Lake Fire growing from an estimated 6,614 ha (16,344 acres) on August 8th to 17,233 ha (42,584 acres) today. The Bay d’Espoir Fire has grown by 496 ha (1,226 acres) from 5,273 ha (13,030 acres) on August 8th 5,769 ha (14,256 acres) on August 10th. There was some rain yesterday that may have helped a little but it seems that there is a ways to go before the fires are under control. I got the two images with the current report on Active Forest Fires (August 10th, 11 AM NDT, note this information may be updated a couple of times a day). At the time that I am writing this post the Bay d’Espoir Highway, the only road into some communities on the south coast of Newfoundland.

obtained on August 10, 2022 from https://www.gov.nl.ca/ffa/files/forestry-forest-fires-pdf-active-fires.pdf

obtained on August 10, 2022 from https://www.gov.nl.ca/ffa/files/forestry-forest-fires-pdf-active-fires.pdf

The Bay d’Espoir Highway was closed for approximately five days through later in the day on Tuesday, August 9th (CBC on Bay d'Espoir Highway reopening and CBC on supplies begin to flow into southern coast communities) Not only does this mean that visitors and others stranded in some communities on the south coast could leave and go home, it also meant that for five days supplies in communities such as St. Albans were dwindling as deliveries of food, gasoline, and other crucial items by road were impossible. Supplies were starting to come into these formerly cut-off communities by late in the afternoon of August 9th. I understand that while these communities were cut-off because of the closure of the Bay d’Espoir Highway (that links with the Trans Canada Highway), that helicopters were available for those requiring medical treatment and other emergencies. 

According to this CBC report on August 10th, smokey conditions continue and the Bay d'Espoir Highway will remain open through the end of today, August 10th to be reevaluated tomorrow, August 11th.

I can not possibly know what it is like to visit or live in a community that only was one road in and out, but my thoughts are with all those on the south coast of Newfoundland who were cut off because of the closure of the Bay d’Espoir Highway. As to whether or not the highway will be closed again, I am sure that no one wants this to happen but if safety dictates that the highway be closed again, than it will be closed again.

I applaud the firefighters both in the air and on the ground working these fires. Stay safe and thanks for your service as you spend time away from your families. Thanks to Quebec for lending four water bombers to Newfoundland.

2022 wildfire season: forest fires in Newfoundland (August 8th)

Direct link to August 8th video on YouTube from CTV News

I wrote about forest fires in Newfoundland Canada on July 25th and again on July 27th. I admit that I had not followed up on these fires until this morning when my friends at the NJFFS Section B10 website shared the above video on the main page of their website (video links updated daily). Of the six forest fires that were still burning on July 27th, see my July 27th for more information, one is under control and two continue to be listed as out of control on August 8th. The Triton Brook/Deer Pond (Fire #137) has burned an estimated 24 ha (or 39 acres) and is listed as being under control and being monitored. 

Two fires, both of which started on July 24th continue to burn out of control:    

• The Bay d'Espoir Highway Fire (Fire #139) has burned 5,273 ha (13,030 acres)
• The Paradise Lake Fire (Fire #136) has burned 6,614 ha (16,344 acres)

See the two images below from the NL Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture for more information on these fires. 

Obtained on August 8, 2022 from https://www.gov.nl.ca/ffa/files/forestry-forest-fires-pdf-active-fires.pdf

Obtained on August 8, 2022 from https://www.gov.nl.ca/ffa/files/forestry-forest-fires-pdf-active-fires.pdf

The Paradise Lake and Bay d'Espoir Fires are located in close proximity to each other, but as of August 8 they have not merged into one fire. An August 4 tweet from the Newfoundland and Labrador Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture Department includes an overview map.

1/3: Forest fires at Paradise Lake & the Bay d’Espoir Hwy (Rte 360) have been fueled by high winds & drought-like conditions. The fire is unpredictable; currently, the head of the fire is spreading northeast towards Mount Peyton, bringing significant smoke. #GovNL #nltraffic #nlwx pic.twitter.com/5dVMOnhNkw

— Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture NL (@FFA_GovNL) August 4, 2022

I know that Bay d'Espoir Highway was open on July 26th as my friends were able to leave by that Highway to continue with their vacation and then return home. I believe that the Bay d'Espoir highway (360) linking remote communities to the Trans Canada Highway has been closed since this past weekend. Emergency helicopter transportation is available. A state of emergency exists for a portion of central Newfoundland with residents being asked to be ready to evacuate.

There is a good report on these fires from the CBC (August 8, late morning) with a five minute video report where you will hear Newfoundland and Labrador's Forest Protection Supervisor, Jeff Motty, report on the fire. I will embed the video below (available from CBC) but I do  not always know how long media outlets maintain their embed, hopefully the article will have the video if the embed code does not work. Of note Motty says that there may be rain showers in the forecast for Tuesday. He also reports that eight water bombers and two bird dog aircraft are available to work these fires.

Highlights of air tankers and Helicopters working wildfires (2021-2022)

I am taking the opportunity on this Friday in early August to share three short videos with you of helicopters and  air tankers working wildfires.

First up is a video shot in August 2021 of four helicopters dipping in support of wildland firefighters in South Africa.

Direct link to video by Jonathan Endersby on Youtube

Next is a short video from April 2022 of aerial firefighting in Greece.

Direct link to video by Endless Aviation on Youtube

Finally from Montana where the Elmo Fire has burned 21,182 acres at the time I write this post, you will see an August 3rd report from KPAX TV on the Elmo Fire highlighting some of the air tankers used in support of the wildland firefighters on the ground.

Direct link to video from KPAX TV on YouTube

2022 NJ wildfire season: new growth in forest after Mullica River Fire

About six weeks ago the Mullica River Fire (see my June 21st post for more information) burned approximately 13,500 acres in a remote section of the Wharton State Fire. The cause of the fire was an illegal campfire. It was the largest wildfire in New Jersey in 15 years. I think it is very cool that new growth is stating to appear in the burn area. For more information see this great July 31st article by Steven Rodas on NJ Advance Media. I love seeing new growth in areas recently burned by wildfires. in the case of the NJ Pine Barrens this speaks to the fact that the forest is adapted to fire. If you scroll down to the bottom of Rodas' July 31st article you should see a link to photo gallery  showing 27 photos featuring new growth in the Wharton State Forest. Finally, included in the article is a link to a YouTube video where NJ Forest Fire Service officials and other State officials discuss the new growth in the forest, and a discussion of possible changes in the New Jersey wildfire season due to climate change. I am embedding the video below, it is a two-minute video, please watch it. Thanks to the NJ Forest Fire Service for your great work containing and mopping up after this fire. No lives were lost and as far as I know, no one was injured

Direct link to video on YouTube from NJ Advance Media (NJ dot com)

NWS Incident Meteorologists celebrate 94 years of service

On July 29, 1928, Leslie G. Gray whom I believe was with the Weather Bureau's San Francisco office was the first Incident Meteorologist to be deployed to the Miller Canyon Fire in the Santa Barbara National Forest. Congratulations to @NWS_IMET_OPS on 24 years of service.

The @NWS Incident Meteorologist program celebrates its 94th Anniversary of providing on site weather support to America’s wildland firefighting efforts!

On July 29, 1928, Leslie G. Gray went on the first IMET mission to the Miller Canyon Fire in California. #FireWX
1/4 pic.twitter.com/dGoruspzxO

— NWS IMET Operations (@NWS_IMET_OPS) July 29, 2022

The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) Incident Meteorologist program celebrates its 94th Anniversary of providing on site weather support to America’s wildland firefighting efforts!

Although the technology changes, the mission remains the same!

(July 29, 1928 - current)
4/4 pic.twitter.com/IOTtMBP3WY

— NWS IMET Operations (@NWS_IMET_OPS) July 29, 2022