2023 Wildfire Season: British Columbia

A video summarizing the very challenging and devastating 2023 Wildfire Season in British Columbia from The BC Wildfire Season. This was the most destructive season in British Columbia history. According to the description on the video page 2,245 wildfires burned at least 2.84 million hectares. The season started early and five wildland firefighters died. Allow just over eleven minutes to watch the video. My condolences go out to the family, colleagues and friends of the wildland firefighters who died. 

I shared this video on my video of the week page for four days, I decided that it was important to acknowledge the devastating 2023 wildfire season in British Columbia in a post that will not be expiring after a week. I do so because I care and want to honor all those who fought these wildfires and the destruction that these wildfires caused.

Direct link to video from the BC Wildfire Service on YouTube

Coulson Aviation: Meet Joshua Kryzsko

 Meet Joshua Kroyzsko, Coulson Aviation's newest C-130 captain. As I understand it, Joshua is now in South America where he and his crew will be providing air support to the wildland firefighters on the ground. In the reel that I embedded below you will hear Joshua talk about his training and his long flight to South America. Thanks Joshua for all you do. I was able to see the video reel that I embedded below on my smart phone and I hope that you can, apologies if you can not. The direct link to Coulson's Facebook post with this video reel may be found here, you may have to turn on the audio.

Holiday Greetings 2023

My tradition during the end of the year holiday season is to post The Shepard by Frederic Forsyth as read by Alan Maitland on CBC radio. Please join me in pausing and remembering all first responders including but not limited to wildland firefighters who may be away from their families. I wish all of you a happy and safe holiday season.

Direct link to video on YouTube

Names of two occupants of 6ABC Helicopter Crash Id'd

The two occupants, the pilot and photographer who died in the crash of the 6ABC News Helicopter have been identified. The pilot is Monroe Smith (age 67) and the photographer is Christopher Dougherty (age 45). May they rest in peace and fly in favorable winds. My prayers go out to their family, colleagues at 6ABC Philadelphia, friends and all who love them.

Direct link to video from 6ABC Philadelphia

Direct link to video from 6ABC Philadelphia

News Helicopter from ABC6 in Philadelphia Crashes in Wharton State Forest

 I was quite saddened to read in NJ Advance Media this morning, Dec 20th, that a News Helicopter from 6ABC in Philadelphia crashed last night in a remote section of Wharton State Forest in New Jersey leaving two dead. My prayers go out to the families of the deceased, their colleagues at 6ABC and all who love them. I understand that the New Jersey Forest Fire Service is assisting at the scene of the crash. According to the report from NJ Advance Media the helicopter crash near Quaker Bridge Atison Road and Mullica River Road in a remote section of Wharton State Forest.

The NJFFS Section B10 Website shared two videos in their daily video postings about the crash, my thanks to my friends at the NJFFS Section B10 for the links to these videos that I am embedding here to share with you.

Direct link to video from Fox43 on YouTube

Direct link to video from 6ABC on YouTube

Turn Around Don't Drown

New Jersey experienced heavy rainfalls overnight, and other areas on the east coast have likely experienced the same heavy rainfall. We have had several instances of flooding and flash flooding in New Jersey of rivers as well as smaller tributaries. I am reminded of "turn around don't drown."Please if you see water crossing the road you are driving on, even if it looks you might be able to get across, turn around and don't drown. Better to be safe and go slightly out of your way then to be sorry.

Link to video from the National Weather Service on YouTube

IMETs: Using NWS Advanced Weather Intearactive Processing (AWIPS) in the field

 I know that the National Weather Service's Weather Forecast Offices, including the NWS Forecast Office in Philadelphia/Mt. Holly that serves my area uses a computer system called Advance Interactive Processing (AWIPS) to assess meteorological data and in their weather forecasting. In the YouTube Video that I am sharing below, you will learn how NWS Incident Meteorologists use AWIPS in the field.

Here is the Facebook post from the US National Weather Service IMET about AWIPS in the cloud.

Here is the YouTube video referenced in the above Facebook post.

Holiday Season Fire Safety

As we continue through the end-of-year holidays I have been thinking about the increase in house fires during the holiday seasons. At the very least, keeping our houses fire safe protects our house and the immediate environs but perhaps an electrical fire caused by malfunctioning outdoor lighting may lead to brush fire in the wildland-urban interface in warmer climates or snowless cooler climates. I found the video that I am embedding below on the holiday fire safety page from the U.S. Fire Administration, the graphics that I share come from the same page. I admit that in years past I may have violated one of the holiday fire safety rules and was lucky that nothing happened. Please be fire safe during this holiday and have a happy a safe holiday season.

Direct link to video from the National Institute of Standards on YouTube

2023 Wildfire Season: Clackamas Crew 30 2023 season

This is the time of year when I like to post videos shot be wildland fire crews highlighting their 2023 season. I like to see what these crews experience and how they decide to use videos to showcase their season. I also get a feel for the personality, if you will of the crew as a whole. 

In the case of the video that I am sharing or embedding today, I got to learn about a wildland firefighting crew that I had not previously known, the Clackamas Crew 30, which I believe is based in the Clackamas Fire District in Oregon. The video is longer then the videos I usually share, at about 20 minutes but I think you will enjoy the video and getting to know the members of the 2023 Clackamas Crew 30

Direct link to video from Cuttin' Chris on YouTube

Friday Fun: Black Hawk Helicopters in Western Australia

As we continue into the holiday season around the world it is winter in the United States and Summer in Australia. Summer in Australia means bushfire season and State of Western Australia has a few tankers and helicopters available to help the firefighters on the ground including two Black Hawk Helicopters that I believe are from Coulson Aviation. Their bushfire season has gotten off to a busy start with 1,611 bushfires since October. I saw this fun video from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA which they shared on their Facebook page with some holiday music showing featuring some firefighting helicopters and tankers. Unfortunately, when I embedded the video, I was not able to share the text accompanying the video which should be found here, hit the see more link in the top right to read the full text.

Fire Safety: Proper Storage of Cold Ashes

 I do have a fireplace in my house which I have not used in years partly for various reasons. But when I did use the fireplace, I admit to improper storage of the ashes from my fireplace. I used to store them in my garage in a large metal bucket without a lid. I was lucky. I have been thinking about fire safety of late and what I can do as a homeowner so when I saw a post on Facebook from District A1 about the safe storage of cold ashes from you fireplace, woodburning stove or grill I knew what I wanted to post today.

Increase in Development in New Jersey Leading to Increased Risk of Wildfires

In the years that I have been writing this blog on aerial wildland firefighting and related issues, I have frequently come upon the term "wildland urban interface (WUI)", put simply the wildland urban interface is when residential or business development exists next to or in close proximity to undeveloped lands. For example, I have frequently read about the problems caused by residential development in the WUI in areas such as the western United States and in the mountains or large undeveloped lands in the east. The problem posed by the development in the WUI is not just a problem in the west or in the mountains, the WUI can be found across the United States in all States to varying degrees. 

Just because your State may have a smaller percentage of development in the WUI does not mean that the problem of wildfires in or near the wildland urban interface is non-existent or minimal. For example, I live in what I call a semi-rural neighborhood in central New Jersey. My neighborhood has many residences but there are some undeveloped areas on or near my street. My risk of being impacted by a wildfire in this undeveloped area is lower than out west or in the mountains, but there is a slight risk. Moreover, if there were such a wildfire in my neighborhood that started in one of these undeveloped parcels of land, unlike in remote and difficult to access locations, first responders and the NJ Forest Fire Service would have easy and quick access. 

There is a nice website from FEMA devoted to the wildland urban interface that may be found on their page on "What is the WUI?".  They have some important facts on the extent of the WUI including a map from the U.S. Forest Service showing the Number of houses in the WUI relative to the total houses in the state (%) for the lower 48 States. Here are some important facts about the WUI from FEMA's WUI page:

• More than 60,000 communities in the United States are at risk for WUI fires.
• Between 2002 and 2016, an average of over 3,000 structures per year were lost to WUI fires in the United States.
• The WUI area continues to grow by approximately 2 million acres per year.

New Jersey has experienced an increase in development leading to a higher risk of wildfires in the WUI. This risk was exemplied by New Jersey's 2023 Wildfire Season which I have written about in this blog. Here is a tag to my articles on New Jersey's 2023 Wildfire Season, there are over 50 articles here including some articles on prescribed burns, the most recent is listed first. But you can get a quick idea of the number of wildfires by scrolling through these articles. Structure protection was active in a few of these wildfires, fortunately no residences were lost. Fortunately, and the reason for this post is to highlight a recent report from 6ABC News out of Philadelphia focusing on the rise in wildfire risk in New Jersey as development continues in fire-prone areas.  The video is just under three minutes and is worth watching.

Friday Fun: An Introduction to the 1946 J-3C Cub

Courtesy of Blancoliro's Youtube Channel, here is an eleven minute video about the 1946 J-3C Cub. Enjoy.

2023-24 Australian Bushfire Season: Coulson Tankers in Australia

 Following up on the article I wrote on November 27th about Coulson Tankers heading to Australia,  Tanker 133, a C-130H tanker, arrived in Richmond, New South Wales (NSW) Australia on Monday. Australia likes to assign nicknames to air tankers, Tanker 133 is known as Froy. She is ready to help the NSW Rural Fire Service. Tanker 137, a 737 Fireliner, will be arriving soon and will start a contract on December 1st as a large airtanker available nationally to all of Australia to work bushfires. For more information see this November 27th article from Australian Aviation (I used one of my three free articles, so there is a paywall).

Froy, which was recently converted can carry up to 4,000 US gallons of retardant See this March 2023 article from Skies Magazine for some more background on Coulson's airtankers including tanker 132 (see below). Some information for Coulson has information on each aircraft in their fleet of firefighting aircraft on their fleet page.

Coulson Tanker 132, also a C-130H tanker, landed in Australia on or about October 21st.

She worked her first bushfire about a a few days later, flying out of Richmond NSW.

2023-24 Australian Bushfire Season: Two Coulson Airtankers Headed to Australia

 As Coulson finishes fall maintenance on their airtankers, those that are on contract or otherwise committed to Australia for their summer bush fire season are being sent to Australia. Tanker 133 is on her way to Richmond New South Wales Australia

Tanker 137 departed yesterday for Australia. I am not quite sure where exactly in Australia Tanker 137 is going, but I know that she will serve where needed. Nor do I know the exact details of how many more tankers Coulson is sending to Australia. 

Thanks to Coulson, the tanker pilots and support staff for helping out our friends in Australia during their summer bush fire season.

2023 Wildfire Season: Matts Creek Fire (final update)

 

I continue reporting on the Matts Creek Fire that was first reported on November 12th (see my November 22nd post for past updates.

As I write this the Matts Creek Fire has burned 11,020 acres and is at 93 percent containment. According to the final update on November 25th A type 3 incident management team assumed command on November 24th. Fire suppression and repair continue; trails and roads remain closed in the fire area on November 25th.

Friday Fun: Raymonde de Laroche

I have been reading a book about women in in the very early days of aviation: Before Amelia: Women Pilots in the Early Days of Aviation by Eileen F. Lebow. While many women were involved in ballooning and dirigibles, including some of the first female airplane pilots, the women that I have read about flew airplanes. The first women to obtain a pilot's license was the Raymonde de LaRoche (from France) on March 10, 1910, earning license # 36 issued by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. I must note that she was not the first female airplane pilot but she did obtain the first pilot's license issued to a women.

Here is a 24 minute biographical video about Raymonde de Laroche from Forgotten Aviation, a direct link to the video may be found here.

P.S. (added on November 27th) I think but am not certain that Raymonde de Laroche was not born into being a Baroness, at some point someone called her Baroness and it stuck.

On Thanksgiving Day Thankful for Wildland Firefighters and All First Responders

Direct link to video on YouTube

As I pause today to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family I am taking time to remember all that I am grateful for. I post this in thanksgiving and gratitude for wildland firefighters on the ground and in the air along with those that provide invaluable support behind the scenes. I remember the structure firefighters who may provide structure protection along with the other first responders such as law enforcement and EMTs. Some of you are away from your family and friends working on the fireline so that we may be safe. I write this so that you know that I am thinking of you today as you work the fireline or doing behind the scenes work or are on call as first responders. I want you to know that what you do matters and I know that you are sacrificing your time with your family and friends to do this important service. I pray for your safety. 

2023 Wildfire Season: Matts Creek Fire (update #2)

Direct link to video on YouTube from WSLS

I continue reporting on the Matts Creek Fire that was first reported on November 12th (see my November 20th post). At the time that I write this, the Matts Creek Fire has burned 11,020 acres and is at 57 percent containment. A substantial rainfall last night (about 3.5") aided the efforts of the firefighters who took a dat off of the fireline for training and the like. The firefighters returned the fireline today to continue working the fire. See this November 22nd update. The Blue Ridge Parkway is now open but the heavy rainfall last night may lead to some debris spills in the fire area.

The map below was created on November 21st. 

Obtained on November 22, 2023 from Matts Creek Fire Nov 21st Fire Mapping on Inciweb

2023 Wildfire Season: Matts Creek Fire

Direct link to video from WSLS 10 on YouTube

A friend of mine contacted me early this past weekend to ask me if I knew about a wildfire that was burning in or near the Jefferson National Forest in Virginia because she had been in touch with a friend who lives near that wildfire. She told me that at the time it was at 2 percent containment and her friend was reporting that the nearby schools were closed due to smoke. I believe, but am not sure that the wildfire my friend was telling me about is the Matts Creek Fire that at that time was at 2 percent containment. I promised my friend that I would keep an eye on the Matts Creek Fire, hence this post.

The video that I embedded above was done prior to the latest update (November 20th) from incident command which reports that the Matts Creek Fire has burned 10,106 acres and is at 27 percent containment. There are road closures in place, and trails in and near the fire area are closed. Here is an excerpt from the November 20th update:

In the northeastern portion of the fire, near Snowden, crews continued to improve fire lines and the area is looking very good and forward progression has stopped. Crews will search for and extinguish any “hot spots” in logs, stumps and under the ground.

In the southeastern portion of the fire near Big Island and Powells Store, fire activity was minimal.  Firefighters patrolled the area and removed fire-damaged trees. 

In the southwestern area fire lines have held well, increasing containment to 27 percent.

Firefighters continued to watch the Hercules Fire, a small fire that started yesterday across the James River. A local volunteer fire department had responded and contacted crews on the night shift for additional help. The fire was slightly under one acre in size. Crews will continue to monitor this fire throughout the day.

Here are some maps starting with two Google Earth images. The fire is near Snowden, Virginia. I then share a map of the Matts Creek Fire.

 

obtained on November 20, 2023 from https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-maps-gallery/vavaf-matts-creek-fire

2023 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Elevated Fire Danger on Nov 18th

Elevated fire danger today. 

 

Here is the Fire Weather forecast for November 18th from the National Weather Service at Mt Holly:

Fire Weather Planning Forecast
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
406 AM EST Sat Nov 18 2023

.DISCUSSION...
Breezy and dry conditions are expected to develop today. Forecast 
minimum relative humidity during the daytime hours is near 30-40% 
for much of the forecast area, driest across the coastal plain of 
southern New Jersey and Delmarva. High temperatures will be mainly 
in the 50s and near 60 degrees near the coast, though temperatures 
may fall a few degrees by mid to late afternoon. This will be 
combined with sustained winds near 15-20 mph and gusts near 30 mph. 

Rainfall from overnight was generally 0.05" or less from near and 
northwest of I-95, and only some sprinkles fell southeast into 
southern New Jersey and Delmarva. Antecedent conditions have been 
quite dry, with little to no rainfall over the last several weeks. 
Thus, there is an elevated threat for the spread of uncontrolled 
fires today.

Sunday will also be on the breezy side, although not quite as dry or 
as windy. Forecast sustained winds will be near 10-15 mph with gusts 
near 20 mph and minimum relative humidity in the 35-45% range on 
Sunday. High temperatures mainly in the mid 50s.

A Special Weather Statement will be issued for the areas with 
greatest fire danger to highlight the threat of rapid fire spread 
today.

2023 New Jersey Wildfire Season: More Prescribed Burns

On November 13th, I shared photos from a prescribed burn that New Jersey Forest Fire Service crews conducted in Sussex County on November 11th, I continue writing about prescribed burns today. I do try to check out the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) on social media on most days because it is one of the ways that I can see what the NJFFS is doing or what is of interest to them at the moment. This week, I noticed two posts on consecutive days about prescribed burns that the NJFFS conducted on those days. Knowing that the NJFFS may conduct prescribed burns in the fall, I went to the NJFFS Prescribed Burns Information Page to find out exactly when the prescribed burn season is in New Jersey. I clicked on "planning" on that page and see that the prescribed burn season in New Jersey runs from October 1st to March 31st, in the following excerpt from this page you will learn a little about planning considerations:

Prescribed burning is a job requiring knowledge of forest fuels, fire behavior, suppression techniques, local weather conditions, and fires effects. Consequently, a written plan must be developed well in advance of the proposed burn to allow time for review and the preparation of all necessary permits. 

Planning considerations include a site map depicting the burn area, objectives and techniques; ranges of preferred weather conditions (wind, temperature, relative humidity); smoke management considerations (developed areas, highways); burning techniques, equipment and manpower needs, emergency suppression procedures, permit requirements and notification procedures. New Jersey's prescribed burning season is limited to the period between October 1 and March 31. 

I am very thankful that the NJFFS has a good prescribed burning program that helps to reduce fuels. I know that after planning and preparation for the burn that the crews work to do the burn safely and without impacting the public. I myself have seen road signs when I have been driving in or near an area with a prescribed burn letting drivers know of the prescribed burn. And their may be additional warnings so nearby residents know that a prescribed burn is happening.

 Thank-you New Jersey Forest Fire Service.

Coulson Aviation Secured Three Year Contract in Chili

 

In a November 14th press release, Coulson Aviation announced that they have a three-year contract in Chili for firefighting. Specifically the contract covers a Lockheed C-130H and a Citation 550 air attack. The C-130H can carry up to 4,000 gallons of retardant. The Citation air attack plane works with the C-130H over wildfires. Here is an excerpt from Coulson's press release:

Coulson Aviation is pleased to announce it has been awarded a three-year firefighting contract with Chile’s Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF) for a C-130H Hercules Large AirTanker and a Citation 550 air attack lead plane with its partner BRYSA. 

“We are honored to continue supporting Chile with our aircraft,” said Britton Coulson, President and COO, Coulson Aviation. “We have been successfully fighting fires in Chile for the past three years with our Boeing CH-47D’s and Lockheed C-130H’s with great success. This new contract solidifies Coulson’s presence with the largest airtanker in the country. It also recognizes the value our C-130 and Citation 550 working together to provide an efficient and productive aerial firefighting response.” 

2023 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Photos from a Prescribed Burn

On Saturday November 11 wildland firefighters from New Jersey Forest Fire Service Section A1 and A2 conducted a 25 acre prescribed burn in Montague Township located in northern Sussex County bordering New York and Pennsylvania.

Prescribed burns, aka Rx burns are an important tool to help reduce the risk of wildfires where wildland firefighting crews go in under very specific conditions to set fires to burn away underbrush. Go here to read more about the New Jersey Forest Fire Service's prescribed burning program.

Here are some photos from the NJ Forest Fire Service Section A1 (shared on their Facebook page) of this prescribed burn. Click on the Facebook post below to see the photos.

Veterans Day 2023

 

 Today is Veterans Day here in the United States where we remember and honor all the men and women, past and present who have served in the military. I pause to say thank-you to all veterans for your service. 

Last year I shared this five year-old video by Richard Tavernaro as remembrance and tribute to all who served in the military. I share this again this year as a tribute to all who veterans past and present

Direct link to video on YouTube

Friday Fun: Harriot Quimby

I have been reading about early women aviators. The first women in the United States to get a pilots license was Harriot Quimby on August 1, 1911. Harriot flew in many air shows and she was the first women to fly across the English Channel on April 15, 2012, the same day that the Titanic sunk. Tragically she died at the Boston-Harvard Air Meet on July 1, 2012 when she was thrown from her plane. For more information read Harriot's bio at the Cradle of Aviation

Direct link to video on YouTube from the National Aviation Hall of Fame

2023 Wildfire Season: wildfire activity in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virgnia

 I was talking to a good friend of mine who lives in western North Carolina. I visited with them six years ago to watch the solar eclipse, beautiful country. Anyway, they were telling about the wildfires in western North Carolina, one of them is about a 20 to 30 minute drive, as a crow flies, from their house. So I write this post for my friends and for another friend who lives in Virginia (but not near the wildfires). 

I understand from talking with my friend that they are very dry which is adding to the wildfire danger. Here is the latest map from the drought monitor

Note the areas of red in North Carolina. 

Kelly Andersson of Wildfire Today wrote an article on November 7th about Wildfire Emergencies in Virginia and North Carolina.

I thought the best way I could cover the wildfires emergencies in Virginia and North Carolina as well as wildfires in eastern Tennessee is to share some videos, the first two video are courtesy my friends at the New Jersey Forest Fires Section B10 Website who share wildfire videos each day on their home page (scroll to the bottom of the page to see today's videos. All three videos were uploaded to YouTube on or about November 7th.

Governor of Virginia declares emergency

Direct link to video on YouTube from WSLS 10

Wildfires in eastern Tennessee

Direct link to video on YouTube from WBIR Channel 10

Wildfires in western North Carolina, North Carolina

Direct link to video on YouTube from CBS 17

2023-24 Australian Bushfire Season: Western Australia Summer Bushfire season (November 6th)

It is summer in Australia and with summer comes bushfire season. Western Australia is seeing an impressive bushfire season with at least 100 bushfires burning as of a day ago.

I learned about the impressive bushfire season in Western Australia after reading a Facebook post from the New South Wales Rural Fire Service saying that they had dispatched two aircraft to Western Australia, a C-130 airtanker and a Citation aircraft.

Wanting to be sure that I had my facts straight, I found the Facebook post from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA confirming that they are getting a large airtanker.

2023-24 Australian Bush Fire Season: Two Erickson Air-Cranes headed to Australia

Two Erickson Air-Cranes Helicopters, both are S-64F models, N163AC and N178AC, otherwise known as Bubba and Isabelle have probably already left or will soon be leaving Long Beach CA for their journey to Victoria Australia for their summer firefighting season. According to the Erickson Incorporated Aerial Firefighting page of their Website, one of their clients is the National Aerial Firefighting Center in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Specs for the S-64F model can be found on this pdf file of S-64F Technical and Performance Information, that is available from the S-64 link on Erickson's fleet info page. 

Thank-you Bubba and Isabella, pilots, and support crew for your upcoming service in Victoria. Stay safe.

Pumpkins Are Not Only for Halloween: Water Storage Tanks for Wildland Firefighting

Perhaps this post is not timely as it is the day after Halloween here in the United States. Perhaps you have displayed a pumpkin and if not you depending on where you live, you may have seen pumpkins in your travels, I know that I have. 

In honor of the recent Halloween celebration here in the United States and more importantly, in honor of the important role that fire pumpkins, aka portable water storage tanks, play to support aerial wildland firefighting, I share an October 31st Facebook post from the Bureau of Land Management. I do know that when a wildland fire using helicopters are located in remote areas, these fire pumpkins play an important role. Time is saved because the helicopters can fill their tanks or bambi buckets near the fire. In addition, water tankers and engines can utilize the fire pumpkins to fill their tanks, again saving time.

Aircraft Working Wildfires: Off Season Maintenance

When aircraft working wildfires such as airtankers, helicopters, and lead planes, etc. are either finished for the season or are between contracts (see for example my October 16th post on Coulson T-132 having maintenance before going to Australia), major maintenance takes place. To the best of my knowledge, the time table (usually hours flown) and what types of maintenance tasks take place at different times is set forth in the United States by FAA requirements and perhaps also stated in the contracts, some items will be specific to the aircraft model. While I do not know what happens during what I am referring to as major aircraft maintenance, I know that there is a pretty comprehensive list covering all the systems on an aircraft that have to inspected, replaced, etc. during major maintenance. 

Some aircraft maintenance happens more often, what I will call for these purposes routine maintenance. I do not know the nature of routine maintenance of aircraft working wildfires, but from what I know of small aircraft, minor maintenance includes but not limited to oil, filters are performed more often and in the world of aircraft working wildfires may be done at night but I am not quite certain. And of course, if an aircraft as an issue that arose requiring maintenance, that aircraft will be pulled off the line until the issue is addressed by the maintenance crews.

I must acknowledge that I am not an expert or otherwise in the know about the specifics of aircraft maintenance That being said I want to speak to the importance of the maintenance of all aircraft including aircraft used to fight wildfires to keep the aircraft safe/ During the off season, so to speak, the contractors supplying aircraft for working wildfires are not sitting around twiddling their thumbs, they are busy performing maintenance of their aircraft.

The Facebook post that I am embedding below is from AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting who maintains a fleet of CL-415 amphibious aircraft, and Avro RJ85 AT and Dash 400 AT aircraft. You will see some photos of their winter maintenance of their CL-415 aircraft receiving maintenance.

Wildfire History: 2003 San Diego County Wildfires (part 2)

On October 25th I wrote about the 2003 Cedar Fire that burned 280,278 acres killing fifteen and destroying over 2,800 buildings. When my sister who lives in San Diego County wrote me on the 25th after I had made this post sharing an article from NBC7 in San Diego, I knew that I had write a follow-up article. Unfortunately, the link that she sent me no longer works, but I did find an article on NBC7 in San Diego dated October 25th looking at San Diego's firestorm twenty years later, I knew that I had to write this post because people I love live in San Diego County and to let them know that I care. Twelve years ago I visited San Diego County and spent a day driving in the Ramona area, one of the towns severely impacted by the Cedar Fire. This is a good article with a nine minute video where an NBC 7 reporter talked to three fire chiefs who worked the fires. In addition to the Cedar Fire, there were two other fires that affected San Diego County twenty years ago, the Otay Fire and the Paradise Fire. I was very moved as I watched this video. I don't know how long this link will remain active. As always, I never know how long this link will be active. I was unable to embed the video, so I hope that you go the link that I referred to above to watch this video.

The report from NBC 7 includes some stats for the three fires, I have always mentioned the Cedar Fire. The Paradise Fire burned 56,700 acres, killing two, 413 structures were lost. The Otay Mesa fire burned 46,291 acres, and six structures were lost. In the time since. there have been changes to how wildfires are fought, the NBC7 reports states that "because of the Cedar Fire, better response practices have been put into place. It prompted changes in firefighting strategy that led to improvements in how crews respond to wildfire today." A little later in the report, there is another video where Fire Chief Ken Kremensky (Barona) "talked about what it was like to be one of the first on scene during the Cedar Fire – which was burning so fast, at times all they could do was help neighbors escape."

I end with some raw video, also shared by NBC7, of the Cedar Fire.

Direct link to video from NBC7 San Diego

Wildfire History: 2003 Cedar Fire (San Diego County, CA)

 In case anyone is wondering, I made an error in my first blog post today where I tried to embed a Facebook post on Santa Ana Winds in Southern California. Unfortunately that did not work out so I m here again with a slightly different post. 

One of the wildfires that I have heard about over the years that I have been writing this blog is the 2003 Cedar Fire that burned 280,278 acres in San Diego County, 28,676 acres burned in the City of San Diego. and. The fire was started on October 25, 2003 by a lost hunter in the Cleveland National Forest, 25 miles east of San Diego. Fifteen people died as a result of the Cedar Fire and 2,820 buildings were destroyed. I need to be honest and say that the Cedar Fire was not on my mind until a close friend who lives in San Diego County and supports my work on this blog sent me this article by Teri Figueroa for the San Diego Tribune. Figueroa wrote a nice article on the history of the Cedar Fire along with some reflections from some folk who lived through that fire.

My sister lives in the San Diego area, I do think about this fire from time to time, so I post this to say that I won't forget. May those who died in this fire rest in peace and prayers for their family and friends on this day. Kudos to all the firefighters who worked this fire.

The video that I share below is from CBS 8 San Diego, they are reporting on the Cedar Fire all week, I believe that the video report below is dated October 25, 2023.

Direct link to video from CBS 8 San Diego on YouTube

NJ Forest Fire Service: Deployments out of NJ (October 20th)

 I wrote in early August that the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS)  had a crew that was deployed to New Mexica to help work wildfires there, and in early July the NJFFS sent some engines to California to assist in their wildfire season. When I began this blog about 15 years ago, I did not fully appreciate the assistance that goes in both structure fire fighting and wildland firefighting, especially wildland fire fighting. The mutual aid that local fire companies provide to state or federal wildland fire fighting agencies for structure protection is invaluable. While some structures can not be saved, some can be saved. Just this fire season, I know for a fact that local fire companies provided an invaluable service to the NJFFS during a very busy fire season. Many residences and businesses in New Jersey were saved. Just as local fire companies provide assistance to wildland fire crews, out of state crews offer invaluable resources to States where local wildfire crews and equipment may be stretched thin, the support of crews and engines from of State is important.

When the call comes to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service to send crews and/or engines out of state, they respond. When New Jersey Forest Fire Service engines and crews are deployed out of state, they do not leave New Jersey hard up for wildland fire crews and engines. Likewise, if New Jersey were to put the call out for support of other state wildland firefighting agencies, they would respond. Having said that, I am not aware that such a call by the NJFFS for help from other state wildland firefighting agencies.

I am honored and proud of all NJFFS engines and crews who are deployed out of state. At the time I write this, I am aware that according to a October 20th Resource Summary from the National Interagency Fire Center (this links updates frequently during the season so what you see may be different) that the NJFFS does have engines (with crew) deployed out of state. Specifically, I see three engines (type 6?) plus crew deployed to Alabama. 

2023 Canadian Wildfire Season: Summary of the Season

Like many of you, I have been following the 2023 wildfire season in Canada, by far the worst season on record. My heart goes out to all those affected by these wildfires, residents and businesses who lost structures, those who were evacuated, and the wildland firefighters from around Canada with international support. I have been interested in finding a summary of the season when I came across a video from The Weather Network, thanks to my friends from the NJ Forest Fire Service who shared this video yesterday on their home page (updated daily). According to the information presented in this video, there were 6,573 wildfires (to date) in Canada in 2023. The video has some graphics and maps, a nice map detailing the wildfire activity by province, and short discussions of some wildfires.

Direct link to video from The Weather Network on YouTube

Behind the Scenes with Coulson Transforming to Coulson Livery

 I don't know about you, but I enjoy seeing how a future airtanker is transformed to her new livery. This is a behind the scenes look at the transformation of BALDER to Coulson Tanker 138. This video that Coulson shared on their Facebook Page is a little over two minutes long. Enjoy.

2023-24 Australian Bush Fire Season: Coulson T-132 Going to Australia Soon

Coulson T-132, one of Coulson's C-130 Hercules air tankers, has recently finished her 2023 contract with the US Forest Service and is currently undergoing maintenance. When this maintenance is completed she will go to Australia, perhaps by cargo ship, where she will go on contract with New South Wales in Australia for their summer fire season. She will be based in Richmond, New South Wales. See this March 2023 article in SkiesMag for more information on Coulson's fleet of C-130's. Coulson's C-130 Hercules air tankers have a 4,000 gallon RADS-XXL tanking system that can be rolled on and off the tanker.

New South Wales Rural Fire Service: New CH47 Added to Aviation Fleet

 As the bush fire season in New South Wales (NSW) Australia is underway, I wanted to find a little more information about their fleet of firefighting aircraft including the new addition of a CH47 Chinook Helicopter to their fleet. I knew that I had read that the NSW Rural Fire Service had acquired a CH47 Chinook in the last 3 or 4 months, and a little digging in my email revealed that Mike Archer had shared an article in his August 7th Wildfire News of the Day newsletter about this acquisition, he referenced this August 7th  article in Helicopter Investor discussing this purchase. 

Rob Rogers, commissioner, RFS said: “The Chinook carries a similar load to a 737 large air tanker but can fill up and turn around faster, protecting people and homes from fires." ...

The CH-47 is powered by two Lycoming T55 turboshaft engines, mounted on each side of the helicopter’s rear pylon and connected to the rotors by drive shafts. The aircraft’s counter-rotating rotors eliminate the need for an antitorque vertical rotor. This enables all the power to be used for lift and thrust. The ability to adjust lift in either rotor makes it less sensitive to changes in the centre of gravity, important for the cargo lifting and dropping, such as when deployed on firefighting missions.

The CH47 arrived in NSW in late July or early August. At present it can carry up to 10,000 liters (or 2,641 gallons) in a bambi bucket. During the (Australian) winter of 2024 an internal tank capable of carrying 11,000 liters (or 2,905 gallons). 

Direct link to YouTube video from Sky News Australia

I thought that you might be interested in reading a July 2023 article in the Aerial Fire Magazine on the NSW Rural Fire Service's aerial firefighting fleet that may be found here. I was glad to read this article because they referred to other aircraft in the NSW fleet: six Bell 412 helicopters, a 737 Fireliner "Marie Bashier", two Cessna Citations for fire mapping and monitoring, and a third fixed wing aircraft. In addition I learned more about the NSW Rural Fire Service's aviation resources and how they are used in aerial firefighting. Finally, I just saw an interesting article on Aerial Fire (dated October 13th) reporting that Australia's largest firefighting helicopter, which I think is the CH47, was used to retrieve a submerged vehicle from a body of water.

2023 Wildfire Season: Argentina Wildfire

As we are well into fall here in the mid-atlantic area of the United States with winter coming in two months, it is spring and will soon be summer in Argentina. While I was perusing the wildfire tab on my News App on my devices, I noted an October 11th story (with a video) from Sky News about a wildfire that has been burning in the Cordoba Province in Argentina (South America), go here to read the story and see the video

A man who started a campfire that grew out of control has been detained. There are evacuations in place. About 960 firefighters with the support of eight air tankers and two helicopters are working this wildfire. An unknown number of residences are affected. I do not know how many acres have been burned.

Direct link to video on YouTube from Mirror Now

How New Jersey Forest Fire Service is Using Their $3M Budget Boost

 A couple of weeks ago, I made a post reporting about the $3 Million boost to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service's (NJFFS) Budget, see my September 22nd post for more information. While I had an idea of how the NJFFS would use these funds, e.g some will be used to purchase new vehicles and to modernize their fleet. Thanks to an October 5th report by CBS Philadelphia who provided a behind the scenes glimpse into how the NJFFS is using these funds to assemble new fire fighting vehicles.

Direct link to video on YouTube from CBS Philadelphia

KC-135 Stratotanker "The Flying Tiger" has left New Jersey

Fairly soon after I started blogging on aerial wildland firefighting I first learned about the KC-135 Stratotanker, flown by the U.S. Airforce as well as other international operators. I don't quite recall my what my friend told me about the KC-135, but I did know that she had almost no use in aerial wildland firefighting and that her primary use was for mid-air refueling and hauling cargo. This factoid got me interested so as I was perusing various aviation videos, especially military aviation, I would pay attention to mid-air refueling such as the time the U.S. navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds did flyovers of some major metropolitan areas in April 2020 to honor healthcare workers during COVID, here is my article on the flyover in NY, NJ, and PA in April 2020. I believe, but am not certain that I saw a mid-air refueling while I was watching either the videos I shared or some other videos of flyovers in the U.S. that I did not share. The 108th Refueling Wing at McGuire Air Force Base used to have several KC-135 Stratotankers, the last one, known as the Flying Tiger, departed on September 20th for her next duty assignment in Bangor, Maine. While I did know that there were KC-135 Stratotankers at McGuire, I am embarrassed to say that I did not about the Flying Tiger with her distinctive black and orange colors and New Jersey logo on the tail. The black and orange colors were to honor Hobey Baker, a Princeton graduate who was a decorated fighter pilot in World War 1. Baker died shortly after WWI ended. 

New Jersey Advance Media has a nice article on the send off of the Flying Tiger to Banger, written on October 1st, the article may be found here (it should be freely available). Here is an excerpt from the October 1st article about the Flying Tiger, Lawler is Lt. Col Chris Lawler who commanded the Flying Tiger's final flight out of McGuire to Bangor Maine:

Built in 1960, the plane dubbed the “flying tiger” is the last of a group of KC-135 model of Stratotanks that was attached to the 108th Refueling Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The Stratotank, which Lawlor described as a “workhorse,” has a boom that attaches a line to another plane for refueling in the air, a neat maneuver at 20,000 feet when you’re flying at 300 knots (about 345 mph).

With more than 60 years in the air, the KC-135 has seen action in Vietnam, Kosovo, and all the conflicts in the Middle East: the Persian Gulf War, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan. With its huge cargo space, the KC-135 has also been used for medical evacuation and to deliver humanitarian aid. Among its missions, the KC-135 spent several weeks delivering pallets of bottled water to New Orleans in 2006 following Hurricane Katrina.

McGuire's KC-135 Stratotankers have been replaced with the newer KC-46.

Emergency Alert System Test in the United States on Oct 4th at 2:20 PM

I was wondering what to prepare today for my usual post on Wednesdays because I am going with friends to spend some time at Sandy Hook in New Jersey when I remembered the test FEMA is conducting tomorrow. This test has gotten lots of publicity on various news outlets and other sources on the internet so I really don't think any of you need me to tell you about this test. However, safety is very important to me and I respect all those, including separate non-FEMA affiliated state and local alert systems (not covered under tomorrows test), who try to warn us to keep us safe. So, posting on this test fits in with my interests.

So, getting to the point, FEMA is conducting a test of the emergency alert system on Wednesday, Oct 4th at 2:20 PM ET. If you have a smart phone capable of receiving WEA alerts you will get a test message. TVs and Radios will receive emergency alerts. I have received such alerts for weather, either tornado warnings or snow squall warnings and I am grateful I did. The video I shared below is from WSBT in Idaho. I thought it odd that I could not find something on YouTube from a media outlet closer to me, but I may not have been looking hard enough. In any event the video from WSBT applies to all of us in the United States.

Direct link to video from WSBT on YouTube

FEMA has a press release about this test, they say in part:

All wireless phones should receive the message only once. The following can be expected from the nationwide WEA test:

▪ Beginning at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET, cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, WEA-compatible wireless phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and in a geographic area where the wireless provider participates in WEA, should be capable of receiving the test message. 

▪ For consumers, the message that appears on their phones will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

▪ Phones with the main menu set to Spanish will display: “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia.  No se necesita acción.”

▪ Similar to when your phone receives an Amber Alert, the WEA alert tone is generally only played when the alert is initially received by the phone and on some devices stops as soon as the user clicks a button.

▪ If a phone is off before the test alert is sent and not turned back on until after the WEA Test expires (approximately 30 minutes), the phone should not get the test message.

WEA alerts are created and sent by authorized federal, state, local, tribal and territorial government agencies through IPAWS to participating wireless providers, which deliver the alerts to compatible handsets in geo-targeted areas. To help ensure that these alerts are accessible to the entire public, including people with disabilities, the alerts are accompanied by a unique tone and vibration. 

Summer Bushfire Season Started in New South Wales Australia on October 1st

I follow the New South Wales (NSW) Rural Fire Service on Facebook partly because I have some friends and family who live(d) in New South Wales but also because for reasons that are hard to explain, I have grown to care about that particular Australian State. But I want to say that I care about the whole country of Australia. So as the Australian summer fire season continues I will try to pay attention, as I can, to bush fires in all of Australia. Anyway, I don't know about the rest of Australia, but I know that the summer bush fire season or what Australians call the Bush Fire Danger Period started on October 1st.

One thing I get from following the NSW Rural Fire Service on Facebook is an idea of the number of bush fires burning across the State of NSW and in their posts they link to how residents of NSW can stay informed of bush fires near them through the NSW Rural Fire Service's Hazards Near Me website  they also have a smart phone app. The post I embed below is dated October 2nd.

Source of News on International Wildfires and a video report from Australia on the 2023 Canadian Wildfire Season

Of late I have been interested in paying closer attention to wildfires outside the United States and as I am able posting about it here. My interest stemmed from a conversation with someone where we were discussing wildfires in the United States and wildfires outside the United States. In considering international wildfires I find Wildfire Today to be a useful resource as they will post about larger international wildfires and related concerns. For example, Kelly Andersson post about the wildfires in Greece on July 22nd and September 5th. Kelly Andersson wrote a September 24th article about the European Union's planned purchase of scoopers fire aviation articles on their sister site, Fire Aviation and just a couple of days ago he wrote about a Canadian tanker pilot. And then there are news sources within various countries that are too numerous to name here.

Another source for news on international wildfires is Mike Archer's Wildfire News of the Day, a five day week newsletter covering wildfires from around the world.

A couple days ago while I was on YouTube, I came across an in-depth news report posted in late August 2023 from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). An ABC reporter went to Canada to report on the 2023 Canadian Wildfires for an ABC show aptly titled Foreign Correspondent. I am embedding this 30 minute video below. I learned more about Canada's 2023 wildfire season, and saw some of the firefighters from around the world helping including but not necessarily limited to Australia, South Africa, and the United States. I saw images of the devastation of these fires including a couple of interviews from people affected by the wildfires. I also learned a little more about the Australian wildland firefighters (known as fireys), and their concerns for their upcoming wildfire season. Canada is ready to help the Australians if the need arises.

Direct link to video from ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) News In-depth

A look at what a BLM Hotshot Crew: Life on the BLM Colorado Craig Interagency Hotshot Crew

As someone who cares about what wildland firefighters do, but has no experience as a wildland firefighter, one of the ways I can see what a wildland fire crew does is to watch videos. I found a good video this morning from the National Interagency Fire Center from 2021 called "The Wild Land". From about this video:

During #FireYear2021, the Bureau of Land Management - Colorado Craig Interagency Hotshot Crew was joined on a two-week assignment by a Bureau of Land Management Fire program contract videographer, Matt Irving. Matt was able to capture the crew while assigned to incidents in California and Montana.

I enjoyed seeing the Craig Hotshots  and listening to the crew talk about their work. I hope that you enjoy this video as much as I did.

New Jersey Forest Fire Service: Awards to Seven Interagency Partners

You may recall that I wrote the post on September 22nd on the $3 million dollar increase to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service for investment to replace some of their trucks, hire additional full time workers and additional contracted air support services, linking to a September 21st news release announcing this boost to the NJFFS budget. I knew at this time that when the NJFFS announced this budget boost that they also announced awards to seven Interagency Partners for their work during the spring 2023 wildfire season:

• Christopher Warwick, Trooper II, New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management
• Michael Mastronardy, Sheriff, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department
• Kristen Carr, Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator, Burlington County Office of Emergency Management
• Stephen J. Letts, Captain, Fire Investigations K9 Unit, New Jersey State Fire Marshal's Office
• Whiting Volunteer Fire Company No. 1
• West Milford Fire Companies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6

In addition to the awards to the seven Interagency Partners, Caryn Shinske, "DEP Senior Press Officer Caryn Shinske was given the Smokey Bear Award for Journalism in the Service of Wildfire Prevention in recognition of her work coordinating and facilitating media requests involving the Forest Fire Service." 

When I write about wildfires whether they be in New Jersey or elsewhere, I always try to be mindful of the work of that partners and/or mutual aid do while working with the wildfire crews to work a wildfire. What these partners and/or mutual aid personnel do is very important. Kudos to all partners and mutual aid. 

Towards the end of the spring wildfire season in New Jersey I reached out with a questions, probably via social media. Ms. Shinske got back to me promptly and answered my questions. A shot out to Ms. Shinske for getting back to me while responding to multiple news outlets.

I am embedding the Facebook Post from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service referring to the September 21st DEP press release. Click on "see more" to see the entire post.