Coulson Aviation's New Aircraft for Lead and AirAttack

I was excited to see Coulson Aviation's April 7th Facebook post announcing that they have purchased five Citation aircraft from Canada for their Lead and Air Attack program. I enjoyed watching Coulson's video where I learned more about Coulson's new Citation aircraft. 

Airtanker Operations: Coulson's Air Attack

Direct link to August 2023 video from Brit Coulson of Coulson Aviation on YouTube

One of the important elements of how airtankers of various sizes and helicopters work in the air to help firefighters on the ground to fight wildfires are the aircraft known as air attack. Air attack aircraft coordinate the aerial operations above the fire. Lead planes will lead the tanker or helicopter into the fire to make their drop. Watch to this eight minute video from Brit Coulson of Coulson Aviation where the various aspects that make up air attack are discussed. 

2025 Wildfire Season: Large Airtankers Worked Recent Wildfires in North and South Carolina

Airtankers and helicopters on federal contracts are a national resource. While most of these firefighting aircraft and lead aircraft work in the western United States, any State Forest Service can request the help of these firefighting aircraft. I try to pay attention to when any airtankers are working wildfires on the east coast. I wrote about Super Scoopers from Bridger Aerospace helping out in North Carolina on March 31  Today I am focusing on large airtankers that helped fight these wildfires. I am grateful to see that both Neptune Aviation Services and !0 Tanker Air Carrier recently worked wildfires that burned in North and South Carolina. While I have read that there were numerous helicopters with buckets working these fires and helicopters can do a lot of good in helping the wildland firefighters on the ground, it is always helpful to have the help of larger airtankers such as those from 10 Tanker Air Carrier and Neptune Aviation. I am glad that both companies had large airtankers available to help out both states. Neptune Aviation’s Bae-146 can drop up to 3,000 gallons of retardant and 10 Tankers DC-10’s can drop up to 9,400 gallons of retardant.

Note: I embedded two images from Facebook below this paragraph, one from the North Carolina Forest Service showing a BAe0-146 airtanker from Neptune Aviation's working a wildfire and the other from 10 Tanker. If you can not see these images, either because you are using a cellphone or for other reasons,  Neptune Aviation’s post may be found here, and 10 Tanker’s post may be found on this page. 

2025 Wildfire Season: Update on Wildfires in and around Los Angeles County (Jan 15th)

I start with embedding a January 14th video from NBC News where reporter Ellison Barber rode along on a Cal Fire helicopter to get an aerial view of some of the wildfires currently burning in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties and a discussion with Operations Section Chief Christian Litz.

Direct link to video from NBC News on YouTube

In my wonderings in preparation for this post, I came across a nice article on USA Today that I hope is freely available to all (I am not a subscriber to USA Today). This January 14th USA Today article discusses the different aerial assets that are currently being used to fight the wildfires in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. The article lists these aerial assets with a drawing and specifications, it is an easy read. In particular the article refers to the : 

• CL-415 Super Scooper (1,600 gallon tank)
• Bell UH-1H "Super Huey" Helicopter (380 gallon tank)
• Sikorsky S-70i "Fire Hawk' Helicopter (1,000 gallon tank)
• Grumman S-2T Airtanker (1,200 gallon tank)
• North American OV-10A Bronco Air Tactical Aircraft
• C-130 Hercules Airtanker (4,000 gallon tank)

Extreme fire danger continues in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties through Thursday, January 16th with a Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning through 3 PM on Wednesday, January 15th.

Obtained on January 15th at 11 AM EST from https://www.weather.gov/lox/

Current wildfire statistics from the Cal Fire Incidents Page at 11:30 AM on January 15th:

• Palisades Fire, 23,713 acres, 19 percent contained, started 1/7/2025.
• Eaton Fire, 14,117 acres, 45 percent contained, started 1/7/2025.
• Hurst Fire, 799 acres, 97 percent contained, started 1/7/2025.
• Auto Fire, 61 acres, 47 percent contained, started 1/13/2025.

obtained from the Cal Fire Incidents Page at 11:10 AM on January 15th

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

About Air Attack from Bridger Aerospace

 Air attack planes flying fire provide a very important service to keep the air space above a wild fire as various firefighting aircraft enter and depart that airspace. One of the companies that I follow on social media is Bridger Aerospace out of Bozeman Montana. I know that Bridger Aerospace has Scoopers, I was not aware that they also have Pilatus PC-12 aircraft flying air attack. I cam across this Facebook post from Bridger this morning discussing thier air attack aircraft that were recently deployed to Alaska.

Coulson C-130 Drop with Lead Plane

 I know that many air tankers work coordinate with a lead plane in making a drop on a wildfire. I enjoyed this two-minute video from Coulson Aviation with a split screen between one of their C-130's and a lead plane including radio transmissions. Enjoy.

Direct link to video from Coulson Aviation on YouTube

Friday Fun: A behind the scenes look from the cockpit of CAL Fire Air Attack

Enjoy this 2022 video from the Grass Valley Air Attack Base in California of a behind the scenes look at air attack on the Still Fire. Grass Valley has an account on Facebook, but you need to have a Facebook account to access their page. You will hear various radio traffic related to the Still Fire and there is cockpit footage from various air craft working the fire, including the OV-10 Air Attack (spotter), a helicopter and a CAL FIRE air tanker.

Direct link to video from Grass Valley Air Attack Base on Youtube

2022 Wildfire Season: Air Tanker Activity over a WildFire near Pocatello Idaho (Aug 10)

 On dreary winter day in western NJ I wanted to see some air tankers working wildfires, so I went to airailimages on YouTube and found a nice 11 minute video of air tankers working the Fort Hall Ross Fork fire near Pocatello, Idaho on August 10, 2022. According to the information in the video that I will share in a moment, the fire had burned over 6,300 acres on the Shoshone-Bannock Fort Hall Indian Reservation near Pocatello, Idaho. I have no other information on this fire asides from what is noted on YouTube (see link below. What is important to me is to see a couple of different air tankers (an Erickson MD87, an RJ85, some Single Engine Air Tankers) and at least one helicopter (with a bucket) working this fire along with some beautiful photography. 

Updated on January 28, 2022. I am slightly embarrassed that I did not immediately recall that this is not the first time I have seen this beautiful video by airailimages. I quick search of Fire Aviation on January 27 led me to Bill Gabbert's August 17th post of the video. So many of you have probably already seen this video and to those of you who have not, I hope you enjoy the video.

direct link to video by airailimages on YouTube

Aerial fire fighting tactics

 I was looking for something different to post today and came across this video from 2015 that I had bookmarked for later posting. The video is called "Basic Tactics" and is shot from a camera mounted on the aircraft, perhaps on the wing. You will listen to radio conversations directing the aerial attack on the fire with some printed commentary telling you what is going on. I always enjoy these videos, I always learn. Enjoy.

Direct link to video on YouTube

Highlights of air tankers and Helicopters working wildfires (2021-2022)

I am taking the opportunity on this Friday in early August to share three short videos with you of helicopters and  air tankers working wildfires.

First up is a video shot in August 2021 of four helicopters dipping in support of wildland firefighters in South Africa.

Direct link to video by Jonathan Endersby on Youtube

Next is a short video from April 2022 of aerial firefighting in Greece.

Direct link to video by Endless Aviation on Youtube

Finally from Montana where the Elmo Fire has burned 21,182 acres at the time I write this post, you will see an August 3rd report from KPAX TV on the Elmo Fire highlighting some of the air tankers used in support of the wildland firefighters on the ground.

Direct link to video from KPAX TV on YouTube

Airtanker Operations from 2013

The book that I have been waiting for, Michigan on Fire by Betty Sodders (1997), on the wildfires that burned in Michigan from 1871 to about 1911, arrived yesterday. My local library borrowed the book on my behalf from a library in Michigan. I have the book for two weeks, maybe more. I started reading it today and am enjoying it. I do want to write something about these wildfires that burned in Michigan. But it will take me at least two weeks to do this reading and other background research.

In the meantime please enjoy this oldie but goodie from 2013, Load & Return from AAFAirtankerVideos. You will see some old Airtankers no longer on contract. I believe that the basic information in this video is still reasonable.

Direct link to video on YouTube

 

2021 wildfire season: 7 acre brush fire -- San Diego County CA (May 22nd)

Thanks to my friends at NJFFS Section B10 for sharing a short video on May 23rd (videos updated daily) about a brush fire near the I-15 interstate in northern San Diego County, California. The brush fire, dubbed the Deer Fire, was first reported on May 22nd per this CAL FIRE San Diego Twitter post. Two S2-T tankers from Ramona Air Attack Base and about three helicopters responded to the wildfire to assist the firefighters on the ground in containing this fire. By late in the day on May 23rd, CAL FIRE San Diego reported that the Deer Fire was contained at 7.5 acres. The fire appeared to have started along the I-15. According to a report by CBS8 in San Diego (see the video that I embedded below), this brush fire may have started by a catalytic converter that came off a vehicle on the I-15, landing on the hill immediately adjoining the I-15.

I am always on the look out for videos showing air resources assisting wildland firefighters on the ground to fight a smaller brush fire. While this video is specific to California and the availability of CAL FIRE air resources, you can see what a difference a coordinated attack from the air and on the ground can make in keeping a brush fire on the smaller side. At the end of this video, you will learn about what California residents can do to protect their homes from wildfires. Again while specific to southern California, there are lessons here for all of us.

Direct link to video from CBS8 in San Diego

2020 wildfire season: Glass Fire Tanker and Helo footage

 I don't know about you but sometimes I just like to look at footage of air tankers and helicopters working a wildfire in support of the wildland firefighters on the ground. I found this footage today in my wonderings on Youtube, it is about 30 minutes of tanker and helos working the Glass Fire in California in September/October of 2020. According to CAL FIRE, the Glass Fire burned 67,484 acres in Napa and Sonoma Counties California. At the time of this writing, the cause of the fire is under investigation. 1,555 structures were destroyed and another 282 were damaged.

Direct link to video on Youtube uploaded by Craig Philpott

About the Bell 209 "Cobra" Firewatch Helicopter

 I learned about a new to me helicopter today, the Bell 209 "Cobra" Firewatch Helicopter, tail # 107Z. This Firewatch helicopter is owned by the US Forest Service and operated on contract by Dynacorp. She is used as an air attack platform with a crew of two, a pilot and an air attack group supervisor. I learned about this Firewatch helicopter from a video by the U.S. Forest Service, courtesy of E Abramson and shared on the U.S. Forest Service Sierra National Forest Facebook page. I am going to share this video, just over six minutes with you. 

You will hear from Scott Beck, pilot of 107Z, ATGS Matt Lynde, Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS), and GIS Tech Michelle Schilling. Not only did I enjoy learning about this Firewatch helicopter and her team, but I especially enjoyed hearing Matt Lynde talk about being an ATGS. 107Z is equipped with Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR), providing intelligence. 

You may not be able to see the Facebook video if you have tracking protection enabled on your browser. If you do not want to disable your tracking protection (understandable), the direct link that I supplied should work and the video should appear at the top of your screen.

Direct link to video on Facebook

I hope you enjoy this video, I know that I did. Stay safe everyone.

2020 wildfire seasons: air tankers in action (Aug 14th) over Grizzly Creek Fire CO

 I found a nice video to share with you uploaded on August 14, 2020 to Youtube of airtankers in action over the Grizzly Creek Fire in the White Mountain National Forest near Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The video is just under five minutes. I should warn you that there is one instance of colorful language near the beginning of the video, if that bothers you you may want to mute the sound. I hope that I have correctly identified the tankers that ou will will see in the video: MD-87s from Aero Air, a P-3 on exclusive use contract with Colorado, an RJ85 from Aero Flite, a DC-10 tanker from 10 Tanker, and a BAe-146 from Neptune Aviation and a couple of Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs). Enjoy.

Direct link to video on Youtube

A look at Air Attack Operations from the National Interagency Fire Center

On a nice early spring day here in New Jersey after some rain over the weekend and more showers on the way tomorrow into the rest of the week, we are still in the middle of our spring fire season. I am reminded that even with the rain, the sandy soils of the NJ Pine Barrens (aka Pinelands) can dry out quickly. And while the soils in northern and central New Jersey may dry out slowly, we should never let our guard down. Aircraft continue on contract in central and southern New Jersey with a NJ Forest Fire Service based in northern New Jersey.

I am a little bit superstitious, so let's just say I am taking advantage of this fine day to share a video from the National Interagency Fire Center (produced in 2012 and revised in 2013) on Air Attack. I shared this video about six years ago on this blog, and I think it bears repeating, so here it is again. You will learn about Air Attack Operations and the difference between air attack, lead planes, and aerial supervision modules (ASM) along with radio communications between aircraft and between aircraft and ground crew supervisors. Some of the dangers facing low level air operations are discussed such as power lines, meteorological towers, and wind turbines. Most but not all of the operations that you will learn about in this video occur in the western part of the United States. While some states have their own or contract aircraft that fly fires without air attack, some of what you learn here applies to these operations (communications with ground crews and dangers to low level aircraft.

The video is about 11 minutes long.


Direct link to video from the National Interagency Fire Center

South Metro Colorada Firefighters working wildfire in California

Enjoy this video from the South Metro Colorado Fire and Rescue documenting the deployment of four of their wildland firefighters to California in the Summer of 2017. They retreated to their safe zone where some of this footage is shot. There is some nice footage of aircraft working the fire.


Direct link to video from South Metro Fire and Rescue

Canyon Fire (Orange County CA) - some aerial operations

While I did not blog on the Canyon Fire that was first reported on September 25th, I did know about it in large part because of Bill Gabbert's coverage on Wildfire Today (see for example Bill's September 27th article) as well as Mike Archer's Wildfire News of the Day e-mail newsletters during this past week. According to the September 29th 7:01 AM PDT update from the Orange County (CA) Fire Authority (page may be updated when you access) the wildfire has burned 2,662 acres and is at 75 percent containment. Evacuation orders in place earlier this week have been lifted and six structures have been damaged.

I'd like to share some videos that I found of some of the aerial operations earlier this week over the Canyon Fire.


Direct link to video from CBS SF Bay Area


Direct link to video from Mark Giradeau


Direct link to video from wakebrdr94

What I have learned about wildland firefighting in North Carolina

I recently spent a long weekend with some friends who live in the mountains of western North Carolina. I found myself interested in what I could find on the web to learn more about wildland firefighting in North Carolina. I decided to spend a little time when I returned home to see what I could find on the web to share with you.

I went first to the North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) website (that I had bookmarked some time back) and quickly found their fire control and prevention page with oodles of links and information. Those of you who are interested in learning more may want to spend sometime exploring this webpage.

The North Carolina Forest Service is divided into thirteen districts in three regions, information on these regions with a tool you can use to find a district for a specific county may be found here.

I know that North Carolina uses aviation resources to help wildland firefighting crews on the ground, with a vague idea that SEATs and helicopters are used. I hoped to find more specific information and was not disappointed. According to the North Carolina Forest Service Aviation webpage, the NCFS

operates 24 aircraft including 19 fixed wing airplanes and five helicopters. Aircraft are utilized in forest management, fire mitigation and detection, as well as fire suppression and direction of ground forces battling wildfires. Based strategically throughout the state, the response time of these aviation resources to emergencies can be measured in minutes.

A fleet of three single engine airtankers (SEATs) can operate from remote grass airstrips near the fire scene and deliver 500 to 800 gallons of fire suppressant or retardant during an initial attack or in support of ground firefighting forces. 

The N.C. Forest Service operates seven aircraft that are Federal Excess Property and are technically owned by the USDA Forest Service. These aircraft are on loan to the N.C. Forest Service specifically for fighting wildfires and include five fixed wing airplanes and two helicopters. (obtained from http://www.ncforestservice.gov/fire_control/fc_aviation.htm on August 28, 2017.

It looks to me like only some of North Carolina's aviation resources are specific to firefighting and I suspect that some do double duty. Based on the information I cited above, I think it is safe to say that there are five fixed wing and two helicopters that are Federal Excess Property owned by the US Forest Service are available for fighting wildfires. I am not sure where the three SEATs fit in, are they Federal Excess Property? In any event, North Carolina has in state aviation resources at their disposal. I am especially interested to read that North Carolina is in the process of transitioning to Air Tractor 802 F SEATs (capable of carrying 800 gallons of retardant or water/foam), scroll down to the bottom of the North Carolina Forest Service Aviation webpage for more information on SEATs and their other aviation resources.

I have to tell you something. As my friends drove us around the mountains of western North Carolina, I have to say that I had a great deal of respect for the ground and air crews of the North Carolina Forest Service. I knew that they were expert in fighting wildfires in their mountains and valleys. I hoped that given the recent rains before our visit that wildfire danger was minimal, but you never know. If there were any wildfires during our visit I did not notice. Which I suppose is a good thing.

Other links of interest concerning wildland fires from the North Carolina Forest Service:

Ground Equipment (with a description of each type of equipment)
Fire Weather with interactive mapping
Photo gallery
Current situation report, current activity and out of state
Current wildfire statistics by district and year to date summary
Number of wildfires (1928 to 2015), pdf file
Causes of wildfires in NC (1928 to 2015), pdf file
Ten year average fire statistics chart, pdf file

I will continue to write about state wildfire agencies in states that I visited this summer. Next up is Washington.