2024 Wildfire Season: NJ Forest Fire Service Helping in California

This year the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has deployed crews and engines to help fight wildfires in California, I wrote about there first deployment on June12th with an update on July 1st about another deployment. I am not quite sure of the status of these deployments, but some crews have returned to New Jersey. Crews serve for a maximum of 14 days before rotating out and possibly being replaced by new crews. I am embedding a nice July 30th report from CBS Philadelphia on these deployments.

Direct link to CBS Philadelphia on YouTube

Fatal AT802 Crash July 25th Seneca, Oregon

Direct link to video from KTVB on YouTube

Early last Friday morning (July 26th) I learned that a SEAT (AT-802) was missing in the vicinity of the Falls Fire near Seneca Oregon. Later that evening I learned that investigators had found the crash site and the pilot, the sole occupant, had died in the crash. I followed this crash over the weekend and saw a post from the BLM in Oregon and Washington saying that James Bailey Maxwell, 74 was flying the SEAT when it crashed on July 25th. I offer my condolences to the family, friends, colleagues and all who loved James. James, may you always fly in favorable winds. I will not forget your sacrifice, may you rest in peace.

Friday Fun: EAA AirVenture Highlights from AirShowStuffVideos

 I knew that EAA AirVenture is still going on this week in Oshkosh. I wanted some aviation related videos to share with you today. Knowing that AirshowStuffVideos does a great job with their videos of air shows and related aviation interests, I went to YouTube and quickly found a couple of videos. The one that I am sharing today is a video of highlights from EAA AirVenture on Thursday, July 25th shot by AirshowStuffVideos. I liked this video because I got to see many older and historic aircraft in addition to more recent aircraft. I also got to see shots of some of the many aircraft on the ground at EAA AirVenture. For those that are interested, AirshowStuffVideos had some nice highlights from Wednesday, July 24th with more recent aircraft including the Blue Angels and many others I recognized.

Here is the video from AirshowStuffVideos of 2024 EAA AirVenture Thursday Highlights.

Direct link to video from AirshowStuffVideos on YouTube 

2024 Wildfire Season: Incident Meteorologist Deployments July 17-23

I come here today to make an overdue post about the important role that National Weather Service Incident Meteorologists (IMETs) do when deployed on the site of a wildfire to help firefighters and others stay safe. See the photo essay below for more information:

Over the last week (July 17 to July 23) 18 IMETs have been deployed to wildfires (dates are approximate). I obtained this information from the US National Weather Service IMET (Office) on Facebook. I spent some time doing a search for information on these wildfires on Inciweb, any errors are mine. I did check the links before posting. 

July 18th

• Horse Gulch Fire, Helena MT
  
• Bench Lake Fire, Stanley Idaho
  
• Hill Fire, Willow Creek CA
  

July 19th

• Ore Fire, Blue River OR
  
• Cougar Creek Fire, Asotin WA
  
• Battle Mountain Complex, Ukiah OR
  

July 21st

• Shelly Fire, Etna CA
  
• Speirs Fire, Vernal Utah
  
• Homestead Complex, Roseburg OR
• Cougar Creek Fire, Asotin WA

July 22nd

• Pioneer Fire, Stehekin WA
  
• Pyramid Fire, Cascadia OR
  
• Whisky Creek Fire, Cascade Locks OR

July 23rd

• Boneyard Fire, Monument OR
  
• Durkee Fire, Durkee OR
  
• Lane 1 Fire, Springfield OR
  
• Swawilla Fure, Keller WA
  
• Red Fire, Crescent OR
  

Pausing to Remember 4 Firefighters who Died in the Line of Duty on July 22, 1977

Direct link to video on YouTube from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group on YouTube

Please join me in pausing and remembering four firefighters from the Eagleswood (NJ) Fire Co who died in the line of duty on July 22, 1977 when their truck burned over while fighting the Bass River Fire. May they continue to rest in peace.

• Chief Harold “Skip” Cranmer, Jr., 32 years old;
• Assistant Chief Marcus Cullen, 28 (FN, US Navy)
• Firefighter John “Red” Baker, 52
• Firefighter Herbert “Herb” Blackwell, Jr. 23

Remembering Firefighters Who Died in 1977 Fighting a Fire in Bass River State Forest

At some point since after I started this blog on aerial wildland firefighting I became aware of the four volunteer firefighters from the Eagleswood Volunteer Company, station 52 who lost their lives fighting a 2,300 acre wildfire in Bass River State Forest on July 22, 1977. Southern NJ had experienced a bad drought that year coupled with an eight day heat wave from July15 to July 23rd.

I will always remember the four firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we might be safe.

• Chief Harold “Skip” Cranmer, Jr., 32 years old; 
• Assistant Chief Marcus Cullen, 28 (FN, US Navy); 
• Firefighter John “Red” Baker, 52; 
• Firefighter Herbert “Herb” Blackwell, Jr., 23. 

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Whip-Poor-Will Wildfire Final Update

The Whip-Poor-Will Wildfire that was reported in the early afternoon of July 16th at the Warren Grove Air-to-Ground Range in Bass River Township in Burlington County NJ has burned 1,167 acres and is at 80 percent containment. Because the wildfire occurred on an active gunnery range that is frequently used for weapons testing there is some speculation, perhaps unfounded that weapons testing may have lead to the wildfire. This is just speculation as the New Jersey Forest Fire has yet to release a cause of this wildfire. Overnight rain helped the wildland firefighters to increase containment of this wildfire.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Whip-Poor-Will Wildfire

 

NJ Forest Fire Service's Lakewood NJ Fire Tower Decommissioned

 

The NJ Forest Fire Service decommissioned the Lakewood Fire Tower in early July. The fire tower was built in 1944 on land that was leased by the State of New Jersey. The owner of the property that the Lakewood Fire Tower sits on is ending and they want the tower removed. For more information on the decommissioning of the Lakewood Fire Tower, the adjacent lands and plans to build a new fire tower in Jackson Township, see this July 11th article on New Jersey Advance Media.

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

Fatal AT802A Scooper Crash July 9 Montana

I am saddened to write of another fatal SEAT crash, an amphibious AT-802 "Scooper" aka Fireboss from Dauntless Air piloted by Juliana Turchetti crashed while working the Horse Gulch Fire in Montana (burned 10,849 acres at 0 percent containment). I offer my prayers on condolences to Juliana's family, her colleagues from Dauntless and all who loved her. May she always fly in favorable winds.

According to the Daily Montanan (July 11th)

 

Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton released Turchetti’s identity to the Daily Montanan just after noon on Thursday. The FireBoss pilot died when her plane, a single-engine water-scooping Air Tractor AT-802, hit the mountainside and landed in Hauser Lake, Dutton said in a text message.

Turchetti was employed by Idaho-based Dauntless Air, a company operating firefighting aircraft for more than 25 years who has held state and federal contracts since 2009, according to the company’s website. The company was contracted to fly for the Idaho Department of Lands but was on loan to the U.S. Forest Service, a spokesperson for the Forest Service said.

Dutton said Turchetti was a native of Brazil who was working in the U.S. on a visa. Dutton said Turchetti leaves behind a 17-year-old son and “numerous” family members in Brazil.

 Juliana was also an Ag pilot, one of the first women in Brazil to fly Ag planes. 

Inside look at Coulson's Tankers and Lead Planes

 I just found a great 13 minute video showcasing Coulson's Tankers and Lead Planes from Downie Live that I want to share with you. The videographer was in the cockpit of a Coulson Tanker on a training day, you will also see how the tanker is loaded with retardant and what the inside of the tanker looks along with footage of some drops. You may see some paid promotions in the video. 

Direct link to video from DownieLive on YouTube

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Tea Time Hill Wildfire, July 8th final update.

At 8 PM tonight, January 8th, the NJ Forest Fire Service reported that the Tea Time Hill Wildfire in Wharton State Forest in Tabernacle Township, Burlington County has burned 4,300 acres and is at 90 percent containment. Some roads and trails remain closed in and around Wharton State Forest. Kudos and much respect for the NJ Forest Fire Service Wildland firefighters who worked this fire in extreme heat and humidity.

Hurricane Hunters 2024 edition part 2

I do delve into aviation related issues that do not directly relate to wildland firefighting. One example being the important work that Hurricane Hunting aircraft to fly into hurricanes to gather important meteorological and location of tropical storms and hurricanes that are then sent to the National Hurricane Center. As many of you no doubt know from various news sources, Hurricane Beryl made landfall on the Texas Coast early this morning near Matagorda, Texas as a Catagory 1 hurricane, see this CNN report with updates for more information on how Beryl is impacting Texas including but not limited to wide spread power outages, flooding, etc.

I know that hurricane hunters have flown Beryl and have posted many videos over the years (see my posts labeled hurricane hunters). I want to draw your attention to two posts, one from June 3rd 2024 where I shared an NPR report on hurricane hunters including interviews with pilots. The second post is from July 7th, 2021 where I shared some information about hurricane hunter aircraft from NOAA and the US Air Force Reserve as well as a video of a hurricane hunter aircraft flying into a hurricane, the links in that article were still good as I posted this article. I encourage you to take a look at the two articles.

I want to share a video report from CBS17 (Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville NC) taking you inside one of NOAA's hurricane hunters known as Kermit just before the start of the 2024 hurricane season. I want to thank all the hurricane hunters pilots and crew for the good work you do flying into hurricanes to provide the best possible information on hurricanes and tropical storms.

Direct link to video from CBS17 on YouTube

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Tea Time Hill Wildfire, July 7th update #4

According to the latest update from the NJ Forest Fire Service, the Tea Time Hill Wildfire remains at 4,000 acres burned. Containment has risen to 75 percent. The Batona Campground remains under evacuation orders. Some trails and roads in and around Wharton State Forest remain closed. A helicopter with a 300 gallon bucket continues to work the fire. I will make my next post when the status of the fire changes, either acreage or containment.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Tea Time Hill Wildfire, Fireworks id'd as cause

According to the most recent update (July 7th, 1 PM) from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS), the cause of the Tea Time Hill Wildfire has been identified as fireworks set off in the forest late on July 4th.  This fire has burned 4,000 acres in the Wharton State Forest in Burlington County, New Jersey and remains at 65 percent containment. Some trails and roads in Wharton State Forest remain closed and the Batona Campground continues to be under evacuation. A helicopter with a 300 gallon bucket continues to work the wildfire. Kudos to the wildland firefighters from the NJ Forest Fire Service and any other responders for working the fire in extreme heat and humidity. 

The NJ Forest Fire Service expects to have another update later this afternoon and if the status of the fire changes I will make another post.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Tea Time Hill Wildfire, July 6th update #2

Excessive Heat Warning

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
255 PM EDT Sat Jul 6 2024

DEZ001-NJZ010-012-015>019-PAZ070-071-104-106-070000-
/O.CON.KPHI.EH.W.0002.000000T0000Z-240707T0000Z/
New Castle-Somerset-Middlesex-Mercer-Salem-Gloucester-Camden-
Northwestern Burlington-Delaware-Philadelphia-Eastern Montgomery-
Lower Bucks-
Including the cities of Pennsville, Doylestown, Norristown, New
Brunswick, Camden, Mount Holly, Morrisville, Lansdale,
Philadelphia, Wilmington, Glassboro, Moorestown, Trenton, Cherry
Hill, Media, and Somerville
255 PM EDT Sat Jul 6 2024

...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values up to 106.

* WHERE...Portions of northern Delaware, central, northern, and
  southern New Jersey, and southeast Pennsylvania.

* WHEN...Until 8 PM EDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Heat related illnesses increase significantly during
  extreme heat and high humidity events.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of
the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose
fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning
or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and
heat stroke.

&&

Here is the July 6th, 4 PM update on the Tea Time Hill Wildfire from the NJ Forest Fire Service. The fire has burned 4,000 acres and the containment has increased slightly to 65 percent. Some trails and roads remain closed in Wharton State Forest. A helicopter with a 300 gallon bucket continues to work the fire in support of the ground crews. A comment, as noted above, there is an excessive heat warning in central and southern New Jersey until 8 PM and temperatures as I write this are 98F at McQuire Air Force Base, several miles from the fire. The nearest NWS reporting station to the fire is out of commission as I write this. 

I will post an update when the status of the Tea Time Hill Wildfire changes. 

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Tea Time Hill Wildfire, July 6th update #1

 I am sorry that I missed the July 5th 8:30 PM update from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) on the Tea Time Hill Wildfire where the NJFFS reported that the fire had burned approximately 1,200 acres and was at 40 percent containment. The NJFFS just posted their July 6th morning update at about 9:15. The wildfire has burned approximately 4,000 acres and is at 60 percent containment. No structures are currently threatened, the Batona Campground remains closed, some trails and roads in Wharton State Forest are closed. A helicopter with a 300 gallon bucket is working the fire. You might want to check out 6ABC in Philadelphia and/or News12 New Jersey for their reporting on this fire, both have video reports.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Tea Time Hill Wildfire (July 5th)

 

I heard about the Tea Time Hill Wildfire a short time ago, from the NJ Forest Fire Service on Facebook and from my friend at the B10 NJ Wildfire Page. As I write this, the Tea Time Hill Wildfire has burned 450 acres in near Apple Pie Hill Fire Tower in Wharton State Forest in New Jersey (Tabernacle Township, Burlington County, NJ).

Friday Fun: TBM Avenger and Other Historic Aircraft Saluting Veterans

 For this week's Friday Fun I am sharing a nineteen minute video that I will embed below. The video is from Airshow Stuff Videos of a 2024 Airshow of a TMB Avenger gathering and salute to Veterans around Memorial Day 2024. I am not sure where this airshow was. TBM Avengers were used in aerial firefighting, my tagged articles on the Avenger may be found here (most recent first). See for example my July 26th 2010 introduction to a series on the TBM Avenger, please note that some of the links in this series are expired but with the help of a friend I hope that the introduction provides a brief overview of the Avenger. The World War Aviation Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado has a nice page with history and specifications of the TBM Avenger that may be found on this page. 

You will see other historic aircraft in this video.

Enjoy, the video is just over nineteen minutes

Direct link to video from AirShowStuffVideos on YouTube

How BLM Fire Uses SEATs

 Sometimes I luck out when I am looking on social media for things to share with you. Yesterday I saw on my Youtube feed a video from the National Interagency Fire Center on their YouTube channel about how the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM0 fire aviation program about their use of Single Engine Airtankers (SEATs) and all the support personal who work with the SEATs. I am aware of the good work that the BLM does out west and applaud their use of SEATs on wildfires in and around their territory. I learned a lot from this video not only about SEATs but also from SEAT aviation managers at various bases used by SEATs. Enjoy. Allow for under six minutes to watch this video.

Direct link from the National Interagency Fire Center on YouTube

2024 Wildfire Season: NJ Forest Fire Service Deploys Additional crews to CA

 I shared a couple of weeks ago that the NJ Forest Fire Service deployed one type 6 engine with two crew to southern California. This engine and crew are currently helping to fight wildfires in the Sequoia National Forest, I learned on June 28th that the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) has deployed two more engines, type 4 engines, with six crew to southern California to support wildland land fire fighting operations. I understand that these deployments do not negatively impact the ability of the NJFFS to fight wildfires in New Jersey. I think the crews for helping out in southern California and in doing so you are spending time away from your families. You honor us with your service.