Airbus A400M (Tactical-Transport Aircraft): Development for Aerial Wildland Firefighting in Europe

Direct link to video from Safran on YouTube 

Direct link to video from Prop Clear on YouTube

I got interested in the Airbus A400M, a  large tactical airlift aircraft that is used in a few European countries after reading the July-August  2024 edition of Aerial Fire. Airbus has a webpage for the A400M with specifications that may be found on this webpage. The Aerial Fire article may be found here (I am not sure how long this link will be active). In addition to its use as a tactical aircraft, air to air refueling, medical evacuation, and carrying paratroopers, the aircraft can be used to fight wildfires with the addition of a modular tanking system similar to that used by MAFFS in the United States. The A400M drop tank, possibly still in the testing phase in Europe, can drop about 20,000 liters or 5,000 gallons. According to the July-August 2024 Aerial Fire article on the C130 and A400M

Many European Air Powers have selected the Airbus A400M as a replacement for their C-130 and other medium-lift tactical transport aircraft. Some of them including France and Spain suffer from massive wildfires annually, thus they intend to use their A400Ms in the way the MAFFS program utilizes them for the Forest Service in the US. An A400M can carry 81,570 lbs of maximum payload while this is 47,399 lbs for C-130J/J-30. This made it necessary for Airbus to design and develop a new firefighting module capable of carrying larger amounts of water and retardant to meet the needs of air forces already operating A400Ms.

With the growing need for firefighting capability of medium-lift cargo aircraft of the world’s air forces and as MAFFS II was integrated into Embraer C-390A Millennium for use by the Brazilian Air Force, Airbus decided to design and develop a special roll-in/roll-out module for installation on A400M. This not only could help some of its current customers and operators such as Spanish, German, and French Air Forces to utilize these aircraft for firefighting operations but also help marketing and selling it in the market.

I think the AirBus A400 can play an important role in aerial firefighting in Europe and other countries where the A400 is being used. I look forward to learning more about the A400.

Friday Fun: Conair Dash 8 Q400 and Avro RJ85

While catching up on my reading yesterday I read in the May- June 2024 edition of Aerial Fire that the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) is in the process of upgrading their fleet. This year they will be getting delivery of two Dash 8-Q400AT and two Dash 8-Q400MRE aircraft, for more information see this April 23, 2024 News release from the SPSA. The Q400AT is configured for wildland firefighting while the Q400MRE is designed for multiple roles such as air evacuations, hauling cargo and being configured for wildland firefighting. I believe that both aircraft are from Conair Aerial Firefighting who supplies air tankers to Canada and other countries. Conair's specification page for the Q400AT may be found here. Conair has a specifcation page for the Q400MRE. The maximum tank capacity for the Q400MRE is 9,274 litres or 2,450 US gallons. The Q400AT has a slightly larger maximum tank capacity of 10,000 litres or 2,640 US gallons.

I wanted to find a video to share with you of the Dash 8-Q400 series and was in luck when I found a video of water bomber training in the spring of 2024 at Bendigo Airport (Victoria?). You will see a Dash 8-Q400 and an Avro RJ85. The video is about nine minutes long. Enjoy.

Direct link to video from JB Aviation on YouTube

Prescribed Burns; Benefits and Addressing Myths

 

Direct link to video from CBS Evening News on YouTube

While the video I shared above is shot in California, I think that the report has good information that applies across the United States and elsewhere. I want to thank my friends at the New Jersey Forest Fire Service Section B10 Webpage for sharing this video on their webpage the other day. They post a few videos daily and I try to go and look at them at each day. As the folk behind the NJFFS Section B10 webpage are wildland firefighters and I am not, I always consider that the videos they share have reliable information. 

I am aware that there are  misconceptions and myths about prescribed burns and this video report addresses some of the myths. For example, while accidents can happen, Governments do not start prescribed burns to start wildfires.

I suspect that the exact specifics of when and what agencies conduct prescribed burns in your area will vary from the what you see in the video report in northern California. The US Forest Service has a page describing their prescribed fires (aka burns), they say in part: "Did you know fire can be good for people and the land? After many years of fire exclusion, an ecosystem that needs periodic fire becomes unhealthy. Trees are stressed by overcrowding; fire-dependent species disappear; and flammable fuels build up and become hazardous."

In New Jersey, prescribed burns are conducted between October 1 and March 31, with many prescribed burns conducted in late winter and early spring. The NJ Forest Fire Service has a nice webpage that may be found here where they discuss what prescribed burns are:

What is a prescribed burn? Technically, a prescribed burn is: "the skillful application of fire under exacting conditions of weather and fuel in a predetermined area, for a specific purpose to achieve specific results."

Since 1928, the Fire Service has used fire as a tool to protect the lives and property of our residents living near the forestlands of New Jersey. We do this by setting fires under exacting conditions to reduce the underbrush (the "fuel" for a fire), in areas that are prone to fire, or that may be located in a position where we feel we can defend against an oncoming wildfire. The use of fire in this way requires a level of skill and competence that we encourage through extensive, ongoing training.

The primary purpose of prescribed burning in New Jersey is to reduce the hazardous accumulations of forest fuels. This aids in the prevention of wildfires, reduces the intensity of the fires, and also provides a foundation for safer, more effective fire suppression and protection operations.

They then go on to give a short history, and discuss the steps they follow in conducting a prescribed burn: planning, preparation, execution, and smoke management. I believe that the information on the NJFFS prescribed burn webpage is inline with prescribed fires conducted by the US Forest Service.

Prescribed burns are an important tool to reduce the risk of wildfires. Thanks to all the wildland firefighters whether they are on the ground or in the air doing prescribed burns.

Wildfires in Portugal

I became aware of the wildfires in Portugal a few days ago through Mike Archers Wildfire News of the Day newsletter and other newsfeeds. These wildfires are a reminder that wildfires are an international problem. Late last week that were as many as 100 wildfires burning about 37,000 acres in Portugal with at least three wildland firefighters perishing and four others who died in the fire. Many residences have been destroyed. Aerial resources from Portugal and surrounding countries are helping the wildland firefighters on the ground. France 24 has a nice 2 minute video report (dated on or about September 20th) covering the wildfires in Portugalat this France 24 site. I found a slightly different version of France 24's video report on the fire on YouTube which I am embedding below.

Direct link to video from France 24 on YouTube

For additional information see two reports from BBC News, a September 19th report with a short video of fire footage and an earlier September 17th report. Finally here is a September 19th report from  from NPR.

No drones in fire zones

Direct link to video from KCAL News

While I understand the popularity of drones and they have many valid uses, flying drones (aka unmanned aircraft systems) over fire zones is not one of them. In most areas in the United States flying drones over fire zones is illegal. Flying drones over a fire zone poses hazards to any aircraft working a fire, the possibility of a drone striking an aircraft is a real threat. In some cases, as discussed in the video I shared above, aircraft operations are shut down over the Line Fire in California because of drone activity and while air operations were shut down the fire came close to threatening other areas.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Tea Time Fire (July 5) Burning in Duff Layer

 On September 16th I wrote about smoke conditions continuing from the Tea Time Fire because the fire is burning in the forest duff layer. I regret that I did not take the time to share a little about what a forest duff layer is. I am sure that some of you reading this already know what a duff layer is, but some of you may not. 

The Northwest Fire Consortium writes about three types: ground fires, surface fires and crown fires: "Ground fires burn mostly in decayed roots below ground and in the duff layer. The duff layer is made up of compacted dead plant materials such as leaves, bark, needles, and twigs." 

As I understand it, in the case of the Tea Time Fire which burned approximately 4,300 acres in the Wharton State Forest (see my July 8th update for more information), while the fire is contained within the fire perimeter and the fire lines seem to be holding, the fire continues to burn in the duff layer. In the case of this fire, it is creating smoke conditions and the fire in the duff could burn for awhile.

I was looking around for some graphic information to show you the duff layer and came across this short 30 second video from Will Boyd's Science and Stewardship.

Direct link to video from Will Boyd's Science and Stewardship on YouTube

I close with a video report from KOIN 6 out of Portland Oregon. I like this video because they are reporting about a large wildfire (that burned three years) that could of affected the larger community who was in the process of returning to their homes. This is because the fire was continuing to burn in the duff layer. While this scenario is different from the Tea Time Fire in the Wharton State Forest, I share the video because the report mentions a wildfire that was continuing to burn in the duff layer after wildland fire fighters had made significant progress containing the wildfire.

Direct link to video from KOIN 6 on YouTube 

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Smoke Conditions from Tea Time Hill Fire (July 5)

 Smoke conditions continue from the Tea Time Hill Fire that burned in New Jersey at Wharton State Forest near the Batona Campground in early July of this year. Crews from the New Jersey State Forest Fire Service continue on site to mop up and monitor this fire. The fire is burning the duff layer as often happens in summer fires. Visitors to Wharton are advised to stay away burned areas. Nearby communities may experience smoke conditions.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Fishers Pit Fire Contained

 In a Facebook post late in the afternoon of September 11th, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service reported that the Fishers Pit Fire in Berkley Township, Ocean County had burned 189 acres and was at 100% containment. No structures were threatened nor were there any road closures. Thanks to all the crews of the New Jersey Forest Service for your continued service in helping us stay safe from wildfires.

Remembering September 11, 2001

 

Direct link to video from NJ dot com on YouTube

Here is a link to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Fishers Pit Fire (Sept 10th)

September 10th, 8 PM

New Jersey Forest Fire crews have made progress on the Fisher's Pit Fire as it has burned 189 acres and is currently at 70 percent containment. Thank-you NJ Forest Fire Service for keeping us safe!

September 10th, 11:10 AM

NJ Forest Fire Service crews worked over night making progress last night using back firing and burn out operations to help reinforce containment. As I write this the Fishers Pit Fire has burning 150 acres and is at 20 percent containment. No structures are currently threatened and there are no road closures in the vicinity of the fire.

2024 NJ Wildfire Season: Just in - Fishers Pit Fire (Ocean County)

September 9, 10:30 PM update

I am writing this at about 6:45 AM on September 10th. At the time of this update (embedded below) there are no road closures and no structures were threatened. There is no information on the size of the Fishers Pit Fire. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

September 9, 8:30 PM

This just in, thanks to a friend from the NJFFS for alerting me to check the NJ Forest Fire Service Facebook page for their alert, posted at about 7:30 PM, for the Fishers Pit Fire burning near Northern Blvd in Berkley Township, Ocean County NJ. No other information is available at this time. Be advised some of the comments in the Facebook post may contain spammy links, do not click.

Nevada National Guard's Blackhawk dropping on the Davis Fire (Reno, NV)

Various State and regional National Guard Units, and other military reserve unit play crucial roles during busy fire seasons be sending their aircraft and crews to help fight wildfires. The Nevada National Guard deployed one of their UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopters to provide crucial air support to the Davis Fire currently burning near Reno Nevada. At the time I am writing this entry the Davis Fire has burned 6,500 acres near Reno, Nevada. 

The fire was first reported on September 7th. Mandatory evacuations are in place along with road closures in place in the vicinity of the fire and power outages. At least 14 homes have been impacted in some way. The Nevada National Guard Black Hawk was one of eight aircraft deployed to the fire as of Sunday evening, September 8th. Additional information may be found at this September 8th 7 PM news release reporting on the Davis Fire on Inciweb. KOLO8ABC out of Reno Nevada is covering the Davis Fire at the time of this writing, here is a link to their September 8th evening coverage.

Friday Fun: 2024 Blue Angels

 I am overdue for Friday Fun. Today I am embedding a short video of the Blue Angels team accompanied by a rendition of Van Halen's Dreams. I always enjoy watching the Blue Angels and I hope you do as well. If you are interested in more Blue Angels videos, including longer videos from their shows all you have to do is go to YouTube and search on Blue Angels 2024, this is how I found this video that I am sharing. Enjoy.

Direct link to video from Crazy John on YouTube

About Women in Wildland Firefighting

It has been awhile since I have written about women in wildland firefighting, for a review of what I have written see these tagged posts, most recent is first. I was intrigued by a Facebook Post by the Bureau of Land Management in Oregon and Washington that I saw recently on the Bureau of Land Management Fire's Facebook page. I enjoyed this brief but good post where they shared about two female wildland firefighters. 

I care a lot about wildland firefighters and have a special place in my heart for female firefighters and want the best for the female wildland firefighters. I understand, as pointed out in this March 2024 article, Women in Fire: Blazing Through Barriers by Danielle Knight, Southern Region (US Forest Service) Office of Communication, that women in wildland firefighting face have faced gender discrimination among other issues. Knight says that "currently, the fire workforce in the Forest Service is about 87% male and 13% female. Often, women face being the only female in a unit, or being one of the few." 

I do know that there is at least one special wildland fire training program for women out of the US Forest Service, see this January 2024 article by Julianne Nikirk (Colville Ntl Forest) where Nikirk discusses the competition to get into the program, a little about the training program, and the goal to get a more inclusive wildland firefighting force.

There is nothing in my experience that directly compares to what female firefighters go through. I want all women wildland firefighters to know that I care about what you do and the sacrifices you make in time away from your family and loved ones. 

Labor Day

 On this day when we honor workers, I want to thank all wildland firefighters, first responders, and other workers who are working today. Thank-you. In honor of Labor Day I share this video on the history of Labor Day from Ted-Ed

Direct link to video from Ted-Ed on YouTube