2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Snowbowl Wildfire, Jefferson Twp.

Most, but not all of the NJ Wildfires that I  write about are either what the NJ Forest Fire Service calls major wildfires (over 100 acres) or complex wildfires (smaller wildfires resulting in road closures or affecting structures and other property), see this April 2024 news release from the NJ Forest Fire Service for more information.

Today, thanks to information that from my friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page provided on their webpage (page updated frequently), I am able to write a little bit about a smaller wildfire (acreage unknown) known as the Snowbowl Wildfire. As I write this the Snowbowl wildfire may still be burning in Jefferson Township, Morris County New Jersey near the Milton Station Fire Tower. From what I understand, this wildfire was first reported yesterday, April 25th. Yesterday, the helicopter and bucket stationed at the Aeroflex Airbase in northern New Jersey did bucket work on the wildfire to support the NJFFS ground crews. A dozer was also used. Yesterday evening there was a small spot fire of about 1/2 an acre about one mile from the wildfire. No structures were threatened.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: County Line Fire Contained

I wrote yesterday afternoon, April 24th, about the County Line Fire that was burning in the Wharton State Forest in Waterford Township (Camden County) and Shamong Township (Burlington County). The wildfire which burned 510 acres is now contained and Jackson Road was reopened yesterday evening. The cause of the wildfire is under investigation. NJ Forest Fire Service crews will remain on site to monitor the wildfire. One campground remains closed through Sunday and a couple of trails remain closed.

Kudos the the New Jersey Forest Fire Crews for their work on this wildfire and for taking care of us. Thank-you!

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: County Line Fire (Camden and Burlington Counties)

Thanks to my friends from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service Section B10 Webpage where I first learned of the County Line Fire that is burning in Wharton State Forest in Waterford Twp., Camden County and Shamong Township in Burlington County, No structures are threatened; there is a road closure, a campground is closed, and a few trails are also closed. As I write this, the wildfire has burned 300 acres and is at 40 percent containment. In addition to NJ Forest Fire Service ground crews, the NJ Forest Fire Service has deployed an observation helicopter. The video that I embed below was uploaded around noon today before the NJ Forest Fire Service posted their 3 PM update (shared above). Thanks to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service for working to keep us safe. Stay safe.

Here are two reports from earlier this afternoon from CBS 3 in Philadelphia and New Jersey Advance Media (1 PM). The Burlington County Times just posted an update at 4 PM that may be found here.

Direct link to video from 6ABC Philadelphia on YouTube

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: April 21st Brush Fire in Ocean County with SEAT drops

 As I was looking on Facebook yesterday at some NJ Forest Fire Service pages, I noted a 9 minute YouTube video from the Jersey Shore Fire Response of the response, including a couple of Air Tanker Drops from a SEAT (Tanker 81). According to the description of the video, the brush fire was reported at about 4:30 PM on April 21st along some train tracks in Manchester Township, Ocean County. Route 70 west was closed for a couple of hours, and the only structure protection was in place at a nearby pallet yard. The brush fire of unknown acreage was contained before the video was posted on YouTube on April 22nd.

In this 9 minute video you will see some units from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service as well as local fire companies, NJ Forest Fire Service ground crews working the fire, dozer operations and two tanker drops. For those that are interested in dozer operations, you may find them at about 1'48" (minutes, seconds) and 3'40". Tanker drops are at 2'12" and 6'59"). You will hear some audio as well. 

New Jersey 2024 Wildfire Season: Elevated Risk for Wildfires (April 23)

 

 

Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ 113 AM EDT Tue Apr 23 2024 DEZ001>004-MDZ012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055- 060>062-070-071-101>106-232200- New Castle-Kent-Inland Sussex-Delaware Beaches-Kent MD- Queen Annes-Talbot-Caroline-Sussex-Warren-Morris-Hunterdon- Somerset-Middlesex-Western Monmouth-Eastern Monmouth-Mercer-Salem- Gloucester-Camden-Northwestern Burlington-Ocean-Cumberland- Atlantic-Cape May-Atlantic Coastal Cape May-Coastal Atlantic- Coastal Ocean-Southeastern Burlington-Carbon-Monroe-Berks-Lehigh- Northampton-Delaware-Philadelphia-Western Chester-Eastern Chester- Western Montgomery-Eastern Montgomery-Upper Bucks-Lower Bucks- Including the cities of Wilmington, Dover, Georgetown, Rehoboth Beach, Chestertown, Centreville, Easton, Denton, Newton, Washington, Morristown, Flemington, Somerville, New Brunswick, Freehold, Sandy Hook, Trenton, Pennsville, Glassboro, Camden, Cherry Hill, Moorestown, Mount Holly, Jackson, Millville, Hammonton, Cape May Court House, Ocean City, Atlantic City, Long Beach Island, Wharton State Forest, Jim Thorpe, Stroudsburg, Reading, Allentown, Bethlehem, Media, Philadelphia, Honey Brook, Oxford, West Chester, Kennett Square, Collegeville, Pottstown, Norristown, Lansdale, Chalfont, Perkasie, Morrisville, and Doylestown 

113 AM EDT Tue Apr 23 2024...ELEVATED FIRE DANGER THIS AFTERNOON... 

The combination of low relative humidity values between 20 and 30 percent, southerly winds around 10-15 mph, gusting between 15 to 20 mph, and drying fuels will increase the potential for the spread of fires this afternoon. Residents are urged to exercise caution handling any potential ignition source...including machinery...cigarettes...and matches. Be sure to properly discard all smoking materials. Any dry grasses and tree litter that ignite will have the potential to spread quickly.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: April 15th Wildfires Along Train Tracks in Camden County

Last week, I missed the Facebook post from the NJ Forest Fire Service that on April 15th there were more than 20 wildfires along train tracks, sparked by a passing train, in Winslow Township, Camden County NJ. The fires were contained. A SEAT with a 600 gallon tank and an observation helicopter flew the fire per this NJ Forest Fire Service Facebook post. By the end of that same day, the NJ Forest Fire Service most of these wildfires were contained. 

• CBS3 in Philadelphia reported on these wildfires here.
• New Jersey Advance Media also had a report on the fire.
• Patch in Gloucester Township NJ reported on April 16th that "A passing train sparked the fires, officials said. Conrail, which operates the train, must reimburse the Forest Fire Service for the cost of responding to the blazes, according to a spokesperson for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, which oversees the Forest Fire Service."

Friday Fun: SEATs (2016) Spring Checkouts

I always enjoy watching videos of SEATs. Enjoy this 2016 video from airrailimages of SEATs during early spring checkouts in advance of going on contract for the 2016 wildfire season.

Direct link to video from airrailimages on YouTube

A Visit to the Empty Sky Memorial in Liberty State Park, NJ

 I knew about the Empty Sky Memorial in Liberty State Park, NJ but had not visited the Park in 15 years. Yesterday I went to the Park with a friend to refresh ourselves on how to get there for an upcoming trip. To say I was moved by seeing the Empty Sky Memorial, New Jersey's memorial to those with ties to New Jersey who died in the September 11th attack on the World Trad Center is an understatement. I live in western Hudson County for sixteen years where I saw the World Trade Center every day, I move a few months before the attacks. For reasons I can not quite explain I felt like I had to take a time out from my usual fare on this blog and dedicate this post to all who died at the World Trade Center in the attacks as well as the first responders, those who died and those who survived.

Direct link to video on YouTube from TravelTouristVideos 

2024 Wildfire Season: Air Tanker Maintenace Continues

As April began, Coulson Aviation and Neptune Aviation and continued spring maintenance of their air tankers as the following embedded (posts with photos) from their Facebook page show. I expect that other air tanker and helicopter operators who fly wildfires are also conducting spring maintenance that are not mentioned here.

Neptune Aviation Services

Coulson Aviation

New Jersey Forest Fire Service: Fire Towers Observers Detect Wildfires

I have posted on other occasions about the network of 21 fire towers around the State that are staffed when conditions are ripe for wildfires. For a description of the each fire tower and to learn more about the importance of fire towers in detecting wildfires in NJ go to the Detection page on the NJ Forest Fire Service web page.

Obtained on April 11, 2024 from https://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/fire/program/detection.html

As we in New Jersey are currently in the spring wildfire season these fire towers will be staffed as necessary. Speaking of the wildfire season in New Jersey, the NJ Forest Fire Service recently put out a nice press release urging all in New Jersey to be aware of the wildfire danger with steps that citizens should take and how they may access information about wildfire danger, as well as the role of prescribed burning, and the importance of the 21 fire towers. The press release speaks to the role of fire tower observers

'Fire observers are critical to the Forest Fire Service’s mission of early detection and rapid response to wildfires', said Bill Donnelly, State Forest Firewarden and Chief of the Forest Fire Service. 'New Jersey has some of the most volatile forest fuels in the country. Having eyes in the sky with the ability to dispatch resources at the first sign of smoke, as well as relaying to ground crews what the wind speed, wind direction and other weather conditions are doing, is immensely important.'

 The New Jersey Forest Fire Service made a Facebook on April 9th discussing the import role of fire towers in New Jersey to detect wildfires. A short video is included.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Old Mine Fire (April 10th update)

11 AM

Following up on my April 9th post where I first reported on the Old Mine Fire, the fire continues to burn in the Worthington State Forest in the Delaware Water Gap remaining at 30 acres burned this morning with containment increasing to 75 percent. Old Mine Road remains closed. According to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, two wildland firefighters were treated yesterday at the scene for heat related injuries and released. The NJFFS also reports that the incident commander flew an observation flight in a NJFFS helicopter this morning and the acreage burned by the fire is not expected to grow. There will be an update this evening about 8 PM from the NJ Forest Fire Service and when that update comes I will revise this post.

April 10th 8 PM update from the NJFFS

I did not check the NJFFS Facebook page until the morning of April 11th. The Old Mine Fire is at 100% containment at 34 acres. NJFFS crews will stay on scene for mop up and monitoring. Nice job everyone. Old Mine Road is now open to traffic.

2024 California Wildfire Season: Welcome to 737 Tanker from NSW Rural Fire Service

The New South Wales Rural Fire Service in Australia is sending their 737 Large Air Tanker "Marie Bashier" to California where she will first undergo annual maintenance by Coulson Aviation at their Palm Springs Facility before being deployed to assist Cal Fire in their upcoming fire season. See the comments in the embedded Facebook post from the NSW Rural Fire Service for more information about Coulson's contract for maintenance of the Marie Bashir. Thanks to the NSW Rural Fire Service for sending the Marie Bashir to help my friends in California this season.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Old Mine Wildfire (Delaware Water Gap, Warren County)

 

5:40 PM

There is a small wildfire known as the Old Mine Fire burning near Old Mine Rd in Worthington State Forest in the Delaware Water Gap, see the image from Google Earth below. An 800 gallon tanker and an observation helicopter were on the scene this afternoon with the tanker making drops on the fire. The map shows the location of Old Mine Road, not the location of the wildfire.  Old Mine Road starts at Interstate 80 just before it crosses into Pennsylvania and runs north along the Delaware River. According to the NJ Forest Fire Service it may be caused by humans. There was a prescribed burn near the wildfire, that burn has been stopped and did not cause the wildfire. The NJ Forest Fire will have another update later tonight, so stay tuned for later updates.

8:30 PM update

My friends at the NJFFS Section B10 website confirmed that the 800 gallon tanker (known as tanker 81) on contract for the month and based in Ocean County flew the Old Mine Road Fire earlier today and was released from the fire at about 4:40 PM. As of 8:30 PM the fire is at 25 percent containment and Old Mine Road is currently closed.

April 10th, 11 AM See my April 10th post for the latest update

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Prescribed Burning (April 8th update)

As weather and other conditions have allowed, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service continues with doing prescribed burns. A prescribed burn is planned for today in northern New Jersey (Division A):

Recent prescribed burns were done on

March 30th

March 26th 

Friday Fun: Super Scooper Tanker Up Close

Join me in looking at a video report from KRTV news out of Great Falls Montana as one of their reporters takes us inside a Super Scooper from Bridger Aerospace, probably one of their De Havilland Super Scoopers. According to the the webpage that I just referred to Bridger Aerospace has 10 Super Scoopers, six CL415EAF super scoopers and four CL215T super scoopers.

Direct link to video from KRTVNews on YouTube (uploaded July 27 2021)

2024 Wildfire Season: Air Tanker Spring maintenance

When I was first learning about general aviation 13 years ago, and going on scenic rides, one of my key takeways was the importance of regular maintenance of aircraft. As I recall, the maintenance of the small planes that I was familiar was guided and mandated by FAA requirements with different maintenance and inspections being done at regular intervals  (hours flown) and signed of by an Airframe and PowerTrain Mechanic. More complicated and thorough inspections and maintenance were called for at longer intervals. But things like oil changes and the like were done at shorted intervals. But I am not writing about maintenance of general aviation airplanes and if I were, I would have to brush up on the requirements.

I am writing about spring maintenance done by contractors on contract with the US Forest Service, or at least two contractors, Coulson and Neptune. I am not privy to what is done in a spring maintenance, nor am I privy to the more routine maintenance that is done through the period when the tanker is on contract. Also, I am not ignoring helicopters on contract with various agencies that fly fires but I have no information on maintenance by helicopter contractors. I am certain that the contractors maintain their helicopters and may also engage in spring maintenance.

I did recently note on Facebook, two companies with US Forest Service Contracts making a post about spring maintenance. What is important is that spring maintenance occurs and while I don't know specific maintenance and inspection procedures, I want to share these two posts about taking time for winter/spring maintenance before individual tankers go on contract.

Coulson Aviation

Neptune Aviation

2024 Wildfire Season: Airtanker Contractors Continued Training for Upcoming Wildfire Season

 I shared last Friday that Neptune Aviation's pilots were engaged in training before going on contract for the upcoming wildfire season. Unfortunately, I know no specific timetables and the like of when tanker and helicopter contractors are doing their training, spring maintenance and the like in what air tanker and  preparation for the wildfire season. However, thanks to following social media, in this case Facebook, I have an idea of what some of the contractors are doing. I do appreciate when companies are able to share on Facebook, but understand that the important thing is taking care of their aircraft and their pilots and posting to social media or elsewhere is not always possible. Nor do I have access to a listing of when airtankers are going on contract with the US Forest Service, when I do have this information, I will make a post to this blog.

Today I share two Facebook posts about air tanker contractors that were engaged in training for the upcoming wildfire season a week or two ago.

I am not able to embed a video clip from 10 Tanker highlighting training they were doing to prepare for the wildfire season, but I invite you to go to 10 Tanker's post on Facebook to look for yourself.share first this short video clip from 10 Tanker Air Carrier.

Finally, I share this post from AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting with photos about training for the upcoming wildfire season. AeroFlite has arrangements to use a property near their base in Chico for training runs simulating a wildfire.

2024 Wildfire Season: Neptune Aviation Training for Upcoming Wildfire Season

Over the last several days Neptune Aviation Services tanker pilots and their fleet of BAe 146 aircraft and lead planes have been undergoing training in preparation for the upcoming wildfire season. I do not know when the first of Neptunes BAe 146 air tankers goes on contract, probably soon.

Enjoy these short posts from Neptunes Facebook Page

Coulson Aviation Flying Fires in Chile (March 2024)

 As I write this in late March, Coulson Aviation continues to fly fire in Chile South America. I am embedding a short clip from the Coulson Aviation Facebook Page of Tanker 131 working a fire in Chile.

Coulson Aviation's Large Air Tankers Working Globally

 Coulson Aviation's fleet of Airtankers not only work in the United States as many of you know the Coulson fleet also has contracts overseas, for example in Australia and South America. I hope you enjoy this video from Coulson Aviation where you will learn a little about their fleet of large air tankers and their work outside of the United States and Canada.

Direct link to video from Coulson Aviation on YouTube

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Red Flag Warning on March 21st

I did know about the March 21st Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service in Mt. Holly NJ for central and southern New Jersey. Time got away from me yesterday and I would normally post about a Red Flag Warning on the day of the warning. I did check some local media as well as the NJ Forest Fire Service Facebook account to see if there were any major wildfires yesterday. I did not see any information about major wildfires yesterday, all this means is that I am not aware of any major wildfires in New Jersey on March 21st, I would suspect that there were smaller brush and wildfires. A link to the text that I posted below may be found here.

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ

858 AM EDT Thu Mar 21 2024

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED TODAY...

.Low fuel moistures, low daytime relative humidity values, and  breezy conditions will result in critical fire weather conditions  through the early evening hours. Any fires that develop may become difficult to contain. 

NJZ012>027-212300-

/O.NEW.KPHI.FW.W.0001.240321T1258Z-240321T2300Z/

Middlesex-Western Monmouth-Eastern Monmouth-Mercer-Salem-Gloucester-Camden-Northwestern Burlington-Ocean-Cumberland-Atlantic-Cape May-Atlantic Coastal Cape May-Coastal Atlantic-Coastal Ocean-Southeastern Burlington-

858 AM EDT Thu Mar 21 2024

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY...

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly has issued a Red Flag Warning for gusty winds and low relative humidity, which is in effect until 7 PM EDT this evening.

* AFFECTED AREA...Middlesex, Western Monmouth, Eastern Monmouth, Mercer, Salem, Gloucester, Camden, Northwestern Burlington, Ocean, Cumberland, Atlantic, Cape May, Atlantic Coastal Cape May, Coastal Atlantic, Coastal Ocean and Southeastern Burlington.

* TIMING...Through early this evening.

* WINDS...Northwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 21 percent.

* TEMPERATURES...Up to 45.

* IMPACTS...The combination of dry conditions, low relative humidity, and gusty winds will result in favorable conditions for the rapid spread of fires. Any fires that develop may become difficult to contain. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly due to a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and dry fuels. Any fires that develop may quickly get out of control and become difficult to contain.

For more information about wildfire danger, burn restrictions, and wildfire prevention and education, please visit your state orestry or environmental protection website.

&&

$$

Kruzdlo

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Prescribed Burns (March 20 update)

While we are in the early days of the spring wildfire season which started in New Jersey on March 15, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) continues to conduct prescribed burns (Rx) on NJ Dept of Environmental Protections (DEP). In addition the NJFFS has an application process for private landowners wanting prescribed burns on their property, some of this prescribed burns on privately owned lands are being conducted today, March 20th according to the NJFFS Prescribed Burn Fire Dashboard. The NJFFS Prescribed Burn Fire Dashboard is a map that lists Rx burns being conducted on the current date known as active burns and scheduled Rx burns that are planned to be conducted over the next five days, if there are not active or scheduled burns the map will be empty. Because the dashboard is updated daily and there is no mechanism to link to a static version on the NJFFS website I am not making a copy to display. But I can see and I hope that you will trust me that today, March 20th, prescribed burns on privately owned lands are being conducted across the State (Sussex County in northern NJ, Mercer County in central NJ, and Cape May County in southern NJ. If you want a better idea of where these counties are located you may follow the above link to the NJFFS Prescribed Burn Fire Dashboard and zoom in a little to see county names, this should work outside of the prescribed burn seasons. 

I do know that prescribed burns were conducted on March 16th through the 19th, both from the NJ Forest Fire Service Facebook page and from e-mail notifications that I receive. However, unlike for prescribed burns done earlier in March there is no listing of the exact location of these burns, nor are past burns shown on the NJFFS Prescribed Burn Fire Dashboard. I can see from todays Dashboard the prescribed burns are scheduled across all of New Jersey in the next five days (March 21 to 26) in Sussex County (northern NJ), Somerset County (central NJ), Monmouth County (central NJ) Ocean County  (southern NJ), and Atlantic County (southern NJ). 

Rest in Peace Tom Janney

Tom Janney who was my mentor in the first couple of years of my blog on aerial wildland firefighting died on March 9, 2024. Tom, may you rest in peace and fly in favorable winds, My prayers are with your wife Debbie and all of your many friends in the wildland firefighting community and elsewhere loved you. 

I want to take some time in today’s post to share about how Tom mentored me and other ways he helped me.

As some of you know, I first got interested in wildland firefighting in late summer of 2008 and I began to learn on my own about wildland firefighting. Since I had this blog at this time, I began to share what I was learning about wildland firefighting. I knew that if I was to continue to blog on aerial wildand firefighting that I would need some help, so At some point in early 2009 I went to a couple of now defunct wildland firefighting forums on the web sharing about my interest in wildland firefighting and my blog. That is how I first met Tom Janney, who at the time I knew as TL Stein. Tom told me that he used to be a pilot who flew fires in California for what was then known as the California Department of Forestry, now known as CAL FIRE. He told me that he was an aviation historian and offered to help me learn about the world of aerial wildland firefighting. I jumped at his offer to teach and mentor me about aerial wildland firefighting. 

While he had not flown as a pilot in a few years when I met him online in 2009, I knew right away that he was very knowledgeable about aerial wildland firefighting.Tom’s mentorship, especially in the first months after I started to blog on aerial wildland firefighting, was crucial. Over the last couple of days since I learned that Tom had passed, I realized that I could not have made the transition to blogging about aerial wildland firefighting and related issues without Tom’s help. Early on he suggested that I write about some of the different aircraft that were flying fires at the time and he taught me about the use of retardant. He was the one who helped to guide me to reliable websites where I could learn about the aircraft flying fires at that time and just as important he taught both through our correspondence ad  reliable sites some of the basics about aviation that are important.

Tom also facilitated introductions to wildland firefighting pilots that he knew who helped me as I continued to learn, some of these conversations (on and off the record) were the basis for some blog articles on the aircraft they flew. He also encouraged me to reach out to other pilots and those who provide ground support, these contacts were and continue to be very helpful, especially in the first couple of years of my blog.

I mentioned that Tom was an aviation historian, so in the few years that I was doing my blog on aerial wildland firefighting, we discussed aviation history as pertains to wildland firefighting but we also discussed other aspects of aviation history. He referred me to a couple of books and tapes that I purchased as well as referring me to some websites focusing on aviation history in general. His knowledge of aviation history has been very helpful to me not only as I was first learning about aerial wildland firefighting but as I continued to write my blog, I wanted to know more aerial wildland firefighting history.

Perhaps one of the more important things that Tom did for me in addition to his mentoring was to help me be right sized and not write beyond my abilities. That is, while I believe that he recognized and had respect for my research abilities, he knew that I was not any type of wildland firefighter on the ground or in the air. Moreover, he knew that I was not a pilot. He gently explained to me that what I can do on my blog is limited because I am not in the wildland firefighting business. While sometimes difficult, We talked about my being right sized and not writing beyond my abilities. I owe Tom a debt of gratitude for his gentle guidance that helped me to be right sized. He was the first to encourage me to write within my abilities but not the only one.

On a more personal note, as I navigated my way through learning something about general aviation through sitting in on FAA ground school and came to the hard to accept realization that I can never be a licensed pilot, he listened and supported me with understanding. One day as I was especially discouraged over not having a pilots license, I encountered a Red Tailed Hawk sitting on a utility pole and I felt comforted in a way that was hard to explain. I told Tom about this when I got home, he told me that the Hawk was releasing me into their world. That meant a lot to me. We chatted about other aviation related things. 

As time went on and I had been writing the blog for a couple of years, I had more confidence and I was doing more on my own with Tom sitting by quietly. As the years went on, we gradually lost touch, that happens sometimes. We would chat every so often on social media and I saw in one social media platform that we both used how much he was respected and loved by many in the wildland firefighting community and friends.

Tom, I miss you already. However, I know that in your own way that you continue to be with me as I continue to blog about aerial wildland firefighting. You gave me a couple of aviation related tokens that I treasure even more now that you are gone. May you rest in peace and fly in favorable winds. 

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Prescribed Burns and Spring Fire Season

 Direct link to video from Eyewitness News ABC7NY on YouTube

As we enter the spring wildfire season in New Jersey today, I am reminded that last years wildfire season in New Jersey was the worse in at least ten years. According to the report, data from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection reveals that 1,194 wildfires burned approximately 18,000 acres in 2023. If you watch this short video, under two minutes, you will learn from NJ Forest Fire Service officials about the important role that prescribed burns have in reducing wildfire risk.

After some recent rains in New Jersey, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service conducted prescribed burns on March 12th through 14th across New Jersey.

Women in Aviation: The Ninety-Nines

I have known about The Ninety-Nines for about 13 years or so from a couple of female pilots who may have been members of The Ninety-Nines. I knew from these women that The Ninety-Nines advocated for and promoted women in aviation. Around the same time, I read or reread books by or about Amelia Earhart mentioning that The Ninety-Nines were founded by 99 women pilots in the late 1920s or early 1930s.  Looking at the history of The Ninety-Nines I see that they were founded in 1929 and Amelia Earhart was their first president. I know that they do a lot of good work supporting women in aviation and if I were a pilot, which I am not, I would have become a member. The following description about The Ninety-Nines is from The Ninety-Nines main webpage:

OUR MISSION — The NINETY-NINES® INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN PILOTS® promotes advancement of aviation through education, scholarships, and mutual support while honoring our unique history and sharing our passion for flight.

Established in 1929 by 99 women pilots, the members of The Ninety-Nines, Inc.®, International Organization of Women Pilots®, are represented in all areas of aviation today. And, to quote Amelia, fly "for the fun of it!"

 The Ninety-Nines have a nice YouTube channel chock full of some wonderful videos highlighting women in aviation, past and present. Here is a video that they uploaded a couple of months ago highlighting women in aviation in 2023. The video is under four minutes, enjoy.

Direct Link to Video from The Ninety-Nines on YouTube

Celebrating Women in Aviation (three days late)

I knew that this past Friday, March 8, 2024 was International Women's Day. I have no excuse for not paying attention to the increased role of women in aviation. I am not a pilot but I do endeavor to support women in aviation in the way that I can. So I come here to share two videos with you celebrating women in aviation.

The first video is about an all women's crew taking off from Newark Liberty International Airport on International Women's Day.

Direct link to video from PIX11 News on YouTube

The second video, from Air Link International Aviation College celebrates women in aviation.

Direct link to video from Air Link International Aviation College on YouTube

Friday Fun: Chinook Helicopters working wildfires in California

 For today's Friday Fun I offer a five minute 2023 video from Coulson Aviation of their Chinook Helicopters working wildfire in California.

Direct link to video from Coulson Aviation on YouTube

2024 Wildfire Season: Texas Panhandle Fires ( March 6th Update)

Direct link to video from KHOU11 on YouTube (reported early morning of March 6th)

I continue to follow the fires in the Texas panhandle. Referring to todays report (March 6th) update on Inciweb, progress is being made on all three fires with increases in containment.  Of note is that containment of the Smokehouse Fire has increased to 37 percent from 15 percent two days ago. Aerial resources continue to be available to help wildland firefighters on the ground. 

obtained from Inciweb on March 6, 2024 at 2 PM EST

2024 Wildfire Season: Wildfires in Texas Panhandle

Direct link to video from CBS Texas on YouTube

Thanks to my friends at the NJ Forest Fire Service Section B10 website who shared the video that I embedded above, I learned about the Roughneck Fire which I believe was first reported on Sunday, March 4th. I did find some information about this fire on the Texas A&M Forest Service Incident Viewer (accessed March 4 at 1:50 PM); they say that the fire has burned 300 acres in Hutchinson County (in the Texas Panhandle) and is at 50 percent containment. 

In the meantime, here is a report from Fox4 Dallas-Fort Worth on folk pitching in to help those devastated by the wildfires in the Texas Panhandle.

Direct link to video from Fox4 Dallas-Fort Worth on YouTube

Some news media coverage of the wildfires in the Texas Panhandle (thanks to Mike Archer of Wildfire News of the Day), most include photos.

• USA Today (March 2) Interactive Texas Wildfire Map (scroll to bottom)
• Fox31 on Air Tankers working the Smokehouse Fire, with video
• ABC7 Amarillo on CL-415 Scoopers working the Windy Deuce Fire
• Amarillo Globe-News on the Roughneck Fire

Lastly, but by no means least, here is todays report on the larger wildfires burning in the Texas Panhandle. I am especially interested in all the air resources available to the wildfires in the Texas Panhandle: 3 large airtankers, 2 scoopers, 2 lead airplanes, 6 SEATs, 2 Chinook helicopters, 1 Blackhawk helicopters and 1 Type 3 helicopter.

Obtained from Inciweb on March 4 at 1:30 PM

2024 Wildfire Season: Skellytown TX (Carson Cnty Tx) and the Smokehouse Fire

I was talking to a friend from Texas yesterday, whom I will refer to as S, we were chatting about the Smokehouse Fire. At the time he thought that it had decimated Skellytown, the town where some of ancestors were from, one of his parents was born in Skellytown. Skellytown is in Carson County in the Texas panhandle. S was not born in Skellytown but lived for a few years as a boy.  S told me a couple of hours later that he was mistaken when he said that Skellytown was decimated; saying it was not decimated that Skellytown still stands. He told me a little about Skellytown telling me that in its hay day, the town was an oil town and suggested that I look at the Skellytown webpage in the Texas Almanac to learn more about the town. As soon as I heard from my friend S about his family’s association with Skellytown and the few years he spent there as a boy, I knew that I had to write about Skellytown. S, this post is for you and your family. As an FYI my friend S lives over 500 miles from Skellytown. Before moving on, I want to share a map of the area that I obtained about noon on March 1st from the FIRMS US/CANADA (Fire Resource Management System US/Canada webpage. I went to their "fire map link", zoomed in and capture my screen in a jpeg file to share with you. The small red arrow in the jpeg file is pointing to Skellytown.

obtained from FIRMS US/CANADA on March 1, 2024 at 12:00 PM

I hope you take a few minutes read the Skellytown webpage in the Texas Almanac, it is a quick read and you will learn about Skellytown. Briefly, the town was named for the Skelly Oil Company who had bought up oilfields in and around what later became Skellytown in the 1920s. By 1927 a rail line was in place to the near by town of White Deer (to the south). The town lost some population in the early 1930s declining to 154 before growing again by the mid 1940s with a population of 650. The town was incorporated in 1958, later building sewer and water infrastructure. But the early 1980s there was an elementary school, a fire station, town hall, baseball field, a library and four churches and ten businesses.

I think that the Skellytown Fire Department did great work fighting the fire at Skellytown and I expect that they may still be involved with the fire in someway. I want to point out that S’s Dad served as a volunteer for the Skellytown Fire Department when they were living there in the mid to late 50s and the early 60s, he still has his Dad’s badge. I will let you read what Chief Jacob Clifton (embedded below) had to say in his Facebook post on February 29th. He thanks a lot of first responders who helped along with the Texas Forest Service and many volunteers who donated food and otherwise supported the Skellytown fire firefighters. Please expand the post so you can read it and look at the pictures.

I have the greatest respect and admiration for the Skellytown Fire Department and the local volunteers who assisted them with food and other support services while they were working the fire. Kudos to all.

From looking at the map that I shared from FIRMS, note the fire perimeter in the map is just to the north of Skellytown, also see this map from the Texas A&M Forest Service shared by the Skellytown Fire Department on Facebook.  Hopefully the Smokehouse fire does not burn into Skellytown. At the time that I write this post, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service  (accessed at 1 PM on March 1st) the Smokehouse Fire is at 1,078,086 acres and is at 15 percent containment. 

2024 NJFFS Prescribed Burns: March 1st update

I am writing this post with some information from the NJ Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) on a change in their prescribed burning a couple of days later than intended as I was following the Smokehouse Fire in the panhandle of Texas (more on that in a later post). Anyway, in 2024 the NJFFS has increased their prescribed burning program to hopefully to prescribed burns on 25,000 acres, up from 21,900 acres. This increase is in response, at least partially, to the 2023 wildfire season in NJ where 14 major wildfires (100+ acres) burned approximately 18,000 acres in New Jersey. This made 2023 the worst wildfire season in 20 years. Prescribed burns can benefit the health of the ecosystem as well as safeguarding nearby towns.

The NJFFS conducts prescribed burns on public and privately owned lands. 

The NJFFS issued a new press release on February 27th about their prescribed program which may be found here. Perhaps being aware of this press release from the NJFFS, New Jersey Advance Media has a nice February 27th article referencing this information and other information about the benefits of the prescribed burn program. The spring wildfire season in New Jersey starts on March 15th.

Both the New York City and the Philadelphia local CBS stations carried reports on the importance of the NJFFS prescribed burn program. I embed both of these videos here. I think the importance of these two report is to get the word out to both northern and southern New Jersey. In addition, if you watch both videos you will see prescribed burns in two different ecosystems.

Direct link to video from CBS New York on Youtube

Direct link to video from CBS Philadelphia on YouTube

2024 Wildfire Season: Smokehouse Fire (Texas Panhandle) and Oklahoma Fires Feb 29th update

Direct link to video from Fox Weather on YouTube

I write today following up on the post I wrote on February 28th on the wildfires in the Texas panhandle and northwest Oklahoma. At the time that I am writing this update on the Smokehouse Fire, currently burning in the Texas panhandle with a portion burning in northwest Oklahoma, has burned 1,075,000 acres and is at 3 percent containment. Evacuations and closures in Canadian, Texas have been lifted. Kelly Robinson of Wildfire Today wrote in a post on the afternoon of February 28th that

"Officials are warning those who evacuated from the town of Fritch ahead of the Smokehouse Creek Fire that destruction there is considerable. 'People who live in the Fritch area are probably not going to be prepared for what they’re going to see as they pull into town,' said Deidra Thomas with the Hutchinson County Emergency Management. 'There are still homes that are on fire.' The main road into the south side of Fritch is still closed.  'Right now, we can’t let you in,” she said. “It is not safe to do that.'"

In a post today, February 29th, Kelly Anderson shares some drone footage, a satellite image of the fires in Oklahoma and Texas. He also reports on a prior prescribed burn, "Officials with Borger’s Office of Emergency Management said the prescribed burn prevented a fire flank from spreading into the southern parts of the town, including the Meadowlark, Country Club, and Bunavista areas."

Thanks to my friends at the New Jersey Forest Fire Service Section B10 who shared this video on their website today about the destruction caused by the wildfires in western Oklahoma.

Direct link to video from News9 on YouTube

2024 Wildfire Season: Texas Panhandle and NW Oklahoma

Direct link to video from ABC News on YouTube

Direct link to video from News9 on YouTube

When I was checking my newsfeed on my devices this morning I noted an article in the top portion of the feed on wildfires in the Panhandle of Texas. The article I saw is from USA Today, Texas wildfire becomes second largest in state history, burning 500,000 acres (February 28th), I noted that Gov. Abbot declared a disaster in 60 Texas counties, that evacuations are in place with residences being destroyed. The largest wildfire, the Smokehouse Fire (Inciweb) started on Monday, February 26th and has burned 500,000 acres, evacuation are in place and there are road closures in the area. 

Seeing the USA Today article on the wildfires in the Texas Panhandle prominently placed in my newsfeed, I went to newspapers that I subscribe to and noted this February 28th New York Times article (gifted for 10 days) on wildfires in the Texas Panhandle and Northwestern Oklahoma with a short video and a smoke forecast map and a report on a hospital in Canadian, Texas (Hemphill County) being evacuated Tuesday afternoon. 

I then checked the Washington Post which has updates (dated February 28th) on the wildfires in the Texas Panhandle, that may be found here (gifted for 10 days). Among other things reporting that some evacuations have been lifted and the Pantex Plant which was closed on Tuesday has reopened Wednesday morning.

The NY Times articles references some wildfires in adjoining areas of Oklahoma, this got me curious about what is happening in the adjoining area of Oklahoma, so I found a nice article on The Oklahoman (which I hope has no paywall) that has some information about the wildfires currently burning in Oklahoma along with photos and a nice map that you can access showing wildfires in Oklahoma, Texas, and nearby states. The map I saw was updated on Feb 28th at about 10 AM local time. The Oklahoman reports that a portion of the Smokehouse Fire has crossed into adjoining northwest Oklahoma.

I'd like to thank my friends at the NJ Forest Fire Service Section B10 who shared the two videos that I embedded at the beginning of this post on their website on February 28th

Note: on the gifted articles from the New York Times and the Washington Post, hopefully the links do give you free access for ten days from February 28th, with free access stopping on or about March 9th. 

2024 Wildfire Season: Midewin Hotshots prescribed burns

The Midewin Hotshots began preparing for their 2024 wildfire season on Feb 12th, see the Midewin Hotshots Feb 12th Facebook post. I was just on their Facebook page a short time ago and saw that on or about February 25, they were on day six of their 2024 wildfire season conducting prescribed burns in the eastern region. Thanks to the Midewin Hotshots for doing prescribed burns which will help to reduce wildfire risks in those areas. I just now checked the Eastern Area Resource Summary (dated February 24, 2023) on the Eastern Area Coordination Center under predictive services-intelligence and saw that the Midewin Hotshots were deployed on February 19th to Indiana, so I assume that the Facebook Post that I embedded below is referring to prescribed burns in Indiana.

I wish the Midewin Hotshot crew the best as they continue with their 2024 wildfire season where they will be deployed in the eastern region of the United States and elsewhere to help with prescribed burns as well as bringing wildfires into containment. Stay safe.

Friday Fun: About the 1946 J-3 Cub

 I was looking around for a fun aviation video to share with you on Friday Fun. I have made a note of the blancolirio YouTube channel where he posts many different aviation videos. Some are about crash investigations but he also posts other aviations videos about different airplanes, interviews with pilots, and aerial firefighting.

Today I am sharing a video he uploaded about three months ago around November 2023 called "Meet the Cub! 1946 J-3". I enjoyed watching this 15-minute video and I hope you do as well. He demonstrates are the power-off stall, three point landing, and gives a walk around of the Cub that he had recently purchased at the time he made this video.

2024 NJFFS Prescribed Burns: February 21 update

Recent snowfall in northern and central New Jersey probably means that conditions (wet soil?) are not conducive for the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) to conduct prescribed burns in these areas. This is not the case in southern New Jersey where you can see from the embedded Facebook post from the NJFFS on February 21st that they conducted prescribed burns on that date in the following locations: 

• Burlington County - Delanco Twp. - County Property
• Burlington County - Eastampton Twp. - County Property
• Burlington County - Washington Twp. - Wharton State Forest 
• Cumberland County - Maurice River Twp. - Peaslee Wildlife Management Area
• Cumberland County - Pittsgrove Twp. - Municipal Property
• Cumberland County - Vineland - Municipal Property 

In addition the NJFFS did prescribed burns in these locations in the last five days:

• February 16th: Wharton State Forest in Winslow Twp, Camden County
• February 20th: private property in Barnegat Twp, Ocean County

Wildfires in Colorado in 2012-13

 It is a rather late on a busier than expected day where time got away from me. So I am sharing a video that I have bookmarked. This is a 28 minute video from the Denver Post about wildfires that ravished areas of Colorado in 2012 and 2013. Great journalism! Please take the time to watch the video, if not now bookmark it for later viewing.

Direct link to video from the Denver Post on YouTube

2023 Wildfire Season: Midewin Hotshots (Wilmington, Illinois)

The Midewin Hotshots are based in Wilmington, Illinois where they are hosted by the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. They Midewin Hotshots are the only Hotshot crew based in the eastern region per the US Forest Service list of Interagency Hotshot Crews (IHC). There are two sites you may go to for information about the Midewin Hotshots: The Unofficial Webpage of the Midewin Hotshots, and the Midewin Hotshots on Facebook where they post updates through out the season. 

According to a September 2, 2023 post on the the Midewin Hotshots Facebook page (see below), in 2023 they had 10 rolls in six different states. I looked up what a roll is, and according to Wildfire 101 a roll is when “Wildland firefighters can work 14 days straight (called a roll) with 16-hour days and possibly up to three days travel before and after the official 14. Night shifts and longer shifts of 16-24 hours are possible depending on the fire and area you are in, but not super common.” 

I would have posted the Midewin Hotshots 2023 fire season video, but I have not seen one posted. That is ok, it happens. But going to their Facebook page I was able to find some posts where they shared where they were helping with prescribed burns or working wildfires in 2023

• February 22: first fire assignment on or about February 22, 2023 in Hoosier National Forest
• February 26: first roll  at Mark Twain NF Missouri
• Feb 28 and March 1: Missouri a couple of prescribed burns
• later in March early April region 8, George Washington National Forest in VA
• April 12: to Michigan, including Huron-Manistee National Forest stayed through May
• July 21: northern rockies
• August 12: Hungry Horse MT

February 12, 2024 was the first day of the Midewin Hotshots 2024 season. Best wishes to the Midewin Hotshots as they prepare for their 2024 season. Thanks for all you do to keep us safe from wildfires. Stay safe.

2023 Wildfire Season: Crew 3 (Idaho?) Crew Video

 When I post crew videos summarizing their 2023 wildfire season, I always try to look for initial attack crews or other crews that are not hotshot crews. Initial attack crews do important work, often being among the first crews assigned to a wildfire. While on YouTube just now, I came across an eleven-minute video from summarizing the 2023 wildfire season of Crew 3. Given the number of wildfires in Idaho that this crew worked (see the end of the video), my guess is that Crew 3 is based out of Idaho. But I am not certain of this. I don't know if where this crew is based matters, what matters is that they did good work on wildfires to protect us.

Direct link to video from Krossed Saints on  YouTube

2024 NJFFS Prescribed Burns: February 12th Update

 The New Jersey Forest Fire Service continues to do prescribed burns. Here is a list of prescribed burns done by the NJ Forest Fire Service between February 8th and February 11th, I got this information from the NJ Forest Fire Service’s Facebook page  starting with their February 8th post. I think but am not sure that the NJ Forest Fire Service will post about prescribed burns when they are scheduled, usually in the late morning. As a citizen of New Jersey I appreciate these prescribed burns are done so that excessive underbrush can be removed minimizing fire danger. Thanks to all Division of the NJ Forest Fire Service for conducting these prescribed burns.

February 8th

• Burlington County - Tabernacle Twp. - Wharton State Forest 
• Burlington County - Washington Twp. - Wharton State Forest 
• Burlington County - Woodland Twp. - Brendan T. Byrne State Forest 

February 9th

• Atlantic County - Estell Manor - Maple Lake Wildlife Management Area
• Burlington County - Medford Twp. - Private Property
• Gloucester County - Franklin Twp. - Private Property
• Gloucester County - Monroe Twp. - Private Property

February 10th

• Ocean County - Jackson Twp. - Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area
• Ocean County - Jackson Twp. - County Property

February 11th

• Monmouth County - Upper Freehold Twp. - Prospertown Lake Wildlife Management Area
• Ocean County - Jackson Twp. - Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area

2024 Wildfire Season: Wildfire in Chile Feb 9th update

On February 5th I wrote about the wildfires in Chile, see my Feb 5th post, and I am writing to provide an update. I want to give a shout out to Mike Archer of Wildfire News of the Day for his February 8th WNOTD where he included the two articles about the wildfires in Chile that I am referring to in this post. But first, I know from the following post on Facebook recently shared by Coulson Aviation that Coulson continues to have a presence in Chile with at least one tanker deployed to Chile. According to Coulson's November 14th (2023) press release, one of their C-130's and crew plus a Citation 550 departed to serve in the Summer wildfire season in Chile. While I do not know for certain, I think it is logical to assume that Coulson's C-130 flew these recent wildfires in Coulson if conditions allowed.

A February 7th Barron's article on the Chile wildfires reported that

Firefighters said Wednesday they had extinguished all wildfires in Chile's coastal region of Valparaiso, where flames razed entire communities and left 131 dead.

The forest emergency that began on February 2 is considered to have been overcome,' said the fire department in the seaside resort town Vina del Mar, one of the worst-hit areas.

The Barron's article goes on to report that local officials say that something in the order of 15,000 homes have been impacted by these wildfires. I am not sure if Barrons has a paywall for this article, I was able to access this article.

The APNews has a nice photo spread of images of the Chile wildfires, see their February 7th article.

2024 NJFFS Prescribed Burns: February 7th Update

 It is late winter here in New Jersey and that means that the New Jersey Forest Fire Service is ramping up to do prescribed burns. The prescribed burning season is from October 1 to March 31, see the NJ Forest Fire Service About Prescribed Burn Page and click on planning. I know that the NJ Forest Fire Service did at least two prescribed burns on February 5th, both in Ocean County.

I follow the NJ Forest Fire Service on Facebook where prescribed burns happening on a specific day may be listed, as is the case for February 5th prescribed burns. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service has a map of prescribed fire notifications listing active and scheduled prescribed burns that may be found here. To learn more about prescribed burns see this 2023 news release from the NJ Forest Fire Service.

I can say that over the years that when I have driven in or through areas where a prescribed burn is being conducted there is signage alerting drivers and while I have never driven on a road that was temporarily closed to a prescribed burn, I assume that there is road closed signage with detours posted. 

I am updating this post to embed a post below from the NJ Forest Fire Service notifying us of prescribed burns scheduled for today, February 7th.

Finally, The NJ Forest Fire Service Sections A7/8 shared a notice from the Mercer County Park Commission on their Facebook page this morning. Their Facebook page requires that you have a Facebook account so out of deference to those of you who are not on Facebook, I am not including the link to their site but I am embedding the post from the Mercer County Park Commission:

2024 Wildfire Season: Wildfire in Chile

Direct link to February 4th video from NBC News on YouTube

It is summer in Chile and a wildfire is burning during a hot and dry period leading to at somewhere in the order of 112 deaths. A state of emergency has been declared and damages could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars according to Chile's Chief Finance Minister Mario Marcel. See this Feb 5th report from CNN for more information, another video and photographs.