About Mopping Up After Wildfires

Over the years I have been writing this blog I have learned many things, one of which is the importance of mopping up after a wildfire. In the video I shared above you will see the role that Helicopters play in mopping up after a wildfire.

2026 Wildfire Season: Helitanker Over Wildfire

A nice video from Airborne Firefighters depicting aerial firefighting using a helitanker in to extinguish a wildfire by deploying wildland helitack firefighters to the ground in areas that are inaccesible by traditional equipment and crews. I am uncertain the location of the helitanker and the wildfire, that does not matter. What matters is the the helitanker deployed firefighters to the ground to extinguish the wildfire.

2026 Wildfire Season: NSW Chinook Ready for NSW Fire Season

I saw a nice video from the New South Wales Australia Fire Service of one of their Chinooks finishing up in France and returning to New South Wales for their fire season. Unfortunately I am not able to embed this video. I am always glad to read about the deployment of wildlandfire aerial assets. Chinooks do good work helping the wildland firefighters on the ground fight wildfires.

Here is a 2024 article from the New South Wales Government about their acquisition of a Chinook

New Jersey Forest Fire Service: Prescribed Burns Continue

As I do on occasion like to drive in Sussex County to see the forests I am glad to see that the NJFFS is conducting prescribed burns in Sussex County today.

New Jersey Forest Fire Service Began Prescribed Burns This Week

I get alerts from the NJ Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) including alerts for Prescribed Burns, you may read about the NJFFS prescribed burns here. To summarize, the NJFFS has been conducting prescribed burns since 1928 to protect those living near wildlands as well as removing hazardous fuels and the like.

I am on the otherside of the State from Ocean County, bordering PA in central New Jersey. In past prescribed burning seasons the NJFFS has conducted prescribed burns in my general area and I am glad to know when they are planning prescribed burns in my area.

They have been conducting prescribed burns in Ocean County since Monday October 26th. I follow the NJFFS almost every day during wildfire season so I can know what is going on. If you live in New Jersey and want a heads up to when prescribed burns are being conducting in your area check out the prescribed fires section of the NJFFS website to see what they are doing.

2026 Wildfire Season: Fighting a Wildfire on PA interstate

Direct link to October 25th video from WHTM-News27 on YouTube.

FYI, there is an ad at the end of the newsreport on this wildfire. Having spent many hours in past years driving through this part of Pennsylvannia on my way to see family, I am always interested in hearing about wildland firefighting efforts in this area. The relatives I used to visit have passed on so I rarely have occassion to pass through this part of Pennsylvannia.

Thanks to my friends at NJFFS Section B10 for sharing this video on their website today. I learn of many wildfire videos from my friends at NJFFS Section B10.

Red Cross on Preventing Home Fires

Direct link to post from the American Red Cross on YouTube

In my wonderings on the internet yesterday I saw this video from the American Red Cross on steps we can take to prevent fires in our homes and how to protect our homes. I wanted to share this with you. More information on fire safety at home from the American Red Cross may be found here.

Getting Started Protecting Your Home from Wildfires

Direct link to October 9th post from the U.S. Forest Service on YouTube While I don't live in an extremely wildfire prone area, wildfires do happen, one happened near me a couple of years ago that the NJ Forest Fire Service extinguished in short order. Point being that while I know that my house does not fit all of the fire safe characteristecs shown in this Facebook post from the U.S. Forest Fire Service and I have a lot in excess of 1.75 acres, I do try to pay attention to wildfire safety around my house as best I can. If I lived an area that was more susectible to wildfires I would have to follow the advice in this post from the U.S. Forest Fire Service more carefully.

2026 Wildfire Season: Henderson Fire (Camp Pendleton) in Southern California

Direct link to October 19th video from CBS8 SanDiego on YouTube I have family and friends who live in Southern California so I try to pay attention to wildfire activity in southern CA. I heard about te Henderson Fire and am happy that it is at 85% containment. Fortunately this. fire is not close to where my friends and family live.

2026 wildfire season: Helicopters Working

Direct link to July 2026 video on YouTube from Sláinte Farms

2026 Wildfire Season: Footage of Aerial Support for Bike Fire in LA County

Direct link to October 14th video of Bike Fire (LA County) from from 310 Fire

According to CAL FIRE on October 14th, the 172 acre Bike Fire in LA County, California is at 91 percent containment. I enjoyed the footage of tankers and a helicopter dropping on this fire in support of troops on the ground. Thanks to my friends at NJFFS Section B10 who shared this video on their webpage this morning, they share videos pertaining to wildfires daily, updated daily.

Oct 11-12 Rainfall

Obtained from National Water Prediction Service on October 12 Yesterday we had a decent rainfall here in New Jersey and environs. I measured about 2.35 inches in my rain gauge. As it had been several days since we had a decent rainfall I was starting to wonder about increased wildfire danger if the rain continued to hold off or if we only had light rainfall. While I know that soil can dry up and there is also a risk of wildfires, I am grateful for the rain.

Air Tractor Fire Boss Working a Wildfire

Direct link to September 25th video from Dawson Thomas on YouTube

As some of you know, I have a special affinity for all Air Tractors, perhaps because I have saw an Air Tractor flying a wildfire years ago and on another occasion got to see one up close and personal.

Winter Airtanker Maintenance is Very Important

Direct link to Bridger Aerospace on Facebook, posted on October 5th.

As I continue to write this blog and try to focus on all that is involved in flying airtankers and helicopters on wildfires, I know how important winter maintenance is to keeping airtankers and helicopters in safe flying condition. Maintenance is important for all aircraft and maintenance schedules should be adhered to. The importance of following aircraft maintenance schedules was driven home to me when I went on scenic rides several years ago. I hope that you can see the October 5th Facebook post from Bridger Aerospace that I embedded. If you cannot I hope that you can find Bridger Aerospace on Facebook and look for their October 5th post.

Aero Flite Tanker 160 Working Wildfires in California

Direct link to October 1st King's Aviation video on YouTube</a>

I do know about AeroFlite and the good work that their aerial firefighting tankers do working wildfires in the United States and globally. I am glad to be able to share this video with you of Aero Flite Tanker 160 working a wildfire in California in late September 2026

About Precision Helicopters Wildfire Fighting Operations

Direct link to August 5th video by Vertical Plus and Lloyd H Photography on YouTube

2026 Wildfire Season: Quiet Season in Alaska

Direct link to September 30th video from Alaska News Source on YouTube

I have never been to Alaska but I do try to follow their wildfire season. I am happy that so far Alaska has had its quietest wildfire season in 31 years. I hope that this quiet season continues. The quiet wildfire season is due to rain and a late frost. Unfortunately adjoining areas of northwest Canada had a significant wildfire season.

Airtankers: Tour of Coulson's Trailers and Vehicles

Direct link to September 27th video on YouTube from Coulson Aviation

Airtankers Flying at Night in California

Direct link to August 18th video from Airborne Firefighters on YouTube

Enjoy this video about airtankers flying wildfires at night in California. The aerial wildland firefighters receive training to safely fly wildfires at night. I am happy to know that airtankers fly wildfires at night in California, I do not know if other States have airtankers flying wildfires at night.

Airborne Firefighters, a documentary series, has other videos about wildland firefighting.

Airtankers at Abiliene Texas Tanker Base Responding to Wildfires on Sept. 17th

Direct link to September 17th video from KTXS News on YouTube