IMETs deployed to Australia

I checked in to Bill Gabberts Wildfire Today a little while ago after taking a little time off during the holidays. So, thanks to Bill's post of December 23rd, I am just know learning that the National Weather Service IMET Operations deployed a team of Incident Meteorologists to Australia to help the Australian Bureau of Meteorology during their horrific bushfire season. Bill also reports on about 40 wildland fire personnel from the United States that were deployed to Australia. I do not know how long this deployment lasts.


Posted by href="https://www.facebook.com/US.NationalWeatherService.IMET.gov/">US National Weather Service IMET on Monday, December 23, 2019

Over the last few days, I have been hearing more and more reports through my news feed as well as National Public Radio about the horrific bushfire season they are having in Australia. I knew that I wanted to write something about the bushfires in Australia, but was not quite sure what the focus would be. Then I learned about the deployment of NWS Incident Meteorologists, aka IMETs and I know that I had to write about their service in Australia.

I am so very proud of the IMETs as well as the wildfire personnel helping in Australia during their horrific bushfire season. I know how important good weather forecasting for fighting bushfires. The IMETs honor us with their service and their sacrifice during this holiday season. They are away from their families during the holiday season. At least I assume they are. I have been writing about IMETs for a few years know, and I want any IMETs who are reading this to know how much I respect you and the work you do. You and your colleagues at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology are working hard to provide those who are fighting the bushfires on the ground with the best possible forecasts so that they may be safe.

For all who are IMETs and wildland firefighters, stay safe everyone! I am very proud of you. Thank-you from the bottom of my heart.

2018 wildfire season: Tatanka Hotshots crew video

I was looking around on Youtube a little while ago and came across the Tatanka (Hotshot) 2018 Crew Video. I want to share it with you. I want to say up front that the video is almost 36 minutes long. However, I loved the video and the backgroumd music. I got to know the guys on the crew, watching them while they had fun. But more importantly, I saw them work wildfires. On the plus side, I was somewhat harried today and I found this video to be soothing. I know this might sound a little strange. But I thought that some of you might appreciate this. So, without further ado, here is the Tatanka Crew Video, uploaded to Youtube in March 2019.


Direct link to video on Youtube

Seasons Greetings 2019: The Shepard

My end of year holiday tradition is to embed Frederick Forsyth's The Shepard, read by Alan Maitland. The Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC) broadcasts The Shepard every year around this time of year. For those of you who don't have the easy opportunity to listen to The Shepard on CBC, I am embedding it below. The video is family friendly. Enjoy!


Direct link to The Shepard on Youtube

Reflections on CAL FIRE's S2-T tanker (part 2)

Long-time readers of this my blog know that I cut my teeth following wildland fires in California, partly because I knew a former CAL Fire pilot and a some current CAL Fire pilots who answered my questions and guided me in the early days of this blog. They showed me around various places on the web, nationally as well as CAL Fire sites where I could find more information. Much of my conversations with these friends were what I called background research and learning. I am forever grateful to these pilots, who are know friends. Some are still flying and when I see a video, photograph, or live stream I may sometimes get a glance at their tanker number.

So, because of those early days when I spent hours following wildfires in California through various live streams from California news stations, I will always have an affinity for CAL Fire pilots. But there is more. That is, I have some family and close friends who live in southern California. I know that the S2-T tanker pilots, CAL Fire helicopters, and other local helicopters are flying these wildfires to support the wildland firefighters on the ground. If the fire is large enough, other aerial resources either from the national fleet of tanker and helicopters, MAFFs tankers, National Guard helicopters, and other assets from California will help. The same hold for wildfires elsewhere in California. Anyway, I know that the aerial firefighters and firefighters on the ground do what they do to keep residents and businesses safe from wildfires. In regards to southern California, it is personal because of my loved ones.

I had hoped to do a little more background research to answer some questions I have about CAL Fire's S2-T tankers. But with the holiday season upon us, I decided to wait until next year. Perhaps there will be nothing new to add, but it is worth the effort. In the meantime, some of you may want to check out some of these older posts that I wrote on the S2-T tanker:

S2-T tanker (part 1) (December 16, 2019)
A closer look at CAL Fire's aviation program (September 18, 2019)
A peak inside a CAL Fire S2-T (October 15, 2010)
Reflections, S-2_T's, SEATs and initial attack (May 24, 2009)
S2-T's end of season tank maintenance (May 9, 2009)

2019 crew videos: Entiat Hotshots

Many of you will be traveling during this holiday season and beyond. I wish everyone safe travels. For those of you are wildland firefighters, whether you be on the ground or in the air, you may be away from your families keeping us safe. Please know that your service is appreciated.

In the meantime, please enjoy this video from the Entiat Hotshots with highlights of their 2019 season.



Direct link to video on Youtube from Entiat IHC Crew Media

Air tankers circa 2010

Recently I have been writing some reflection pieces with embedded videos of some tankers and helicopters that I learned of over ten years ago when I decided to devote this blog to aerial wildland firefighting and related concerns. My latest post in this series was on December 16th when I wrote the first of what I hope to be at least a couple of posts on CAL FIRE's S2-T tanker. I hope to return to writing about the S2-T tanker either the end of this week or early next week.

Today I am sharing a video I first learned about nine years ago by Alan Simmons. Alan shoots videos of structure fires,wildland fires, EMS, tankers, etc. You may find his videos for sale on FirestormvideosHD. I learned of Alan's videos nine years ago when I came upon highlights from his longer 80 minute 2010 video on Firefighting Air Tankers. I do have this DVD, but due to technical issues I have not been able to watch it recently. As I have recently been writing about some of the tankers that Alan showcases in his eight minute highlight video from (2010) Firefighting Air Tankers, I thought that I would share this with you.

Enjoy.



Direct link to Alan Simmon's eight minute video, Firefighting Air Tankers

Reflections on CAL FIRE's S2-T tanker (part 1)

I would be remiss to write reflection pieces on air tankers and not include the Grumman S2-T Tracker flown by CAL FIRE. I am not quite sure how many S2-T's are currently flown by CAL FIRE. According to CAL FIRE's fact sheet (2005) on the S2-T there are 23 S2-T tankers in service. Twenty-two are assigned to twelve air attack bases with one or two S2-T’s assigned to each base. One, T-100 is a spare and is at McClellan Air Attack Base until needed.

I first learned of the S2-T in the spring of 2009 shortly after I decided to devote this blog to aerial wildland firefighting and related concerns. I have grown to love the S2-T and her pilots. S2-T's are based at air attack bases around California so they can easily and quickly be deployed to fly wildfires in support of the wildland firefighters on the ground. They do a lot of initial attack work and many times their quick response coupled with the wildland firefighters on the ground wildland fires can be put out while they are still small. And when that is not possible, they will continue to fly the fire with, the support of other air tankers and helicopters.

I do not live on the west coast, but I have visited southern California a couple times and stopped by Ramona Air Attack Base for a visit. The morning I visited, it was a quiet day and one of the S2-T's, T-71, was sitting on the ramp along with the OV-10 air attack plane. I was delighted to be able to take a tour of the base with some photos which I shared in my July 13 2012 post.

I found a very cool video, almost six minutes long, of footage shot from inside a S2-T tanker. According to a knowledgeable friend, the pilot is Bob Forbes, now retired, and the video was probably shot near Hemet California where his home base (Hemet-Ryan in Riverside County California) was located. I love videos that take me inside the cockpit of a tanker flying a fire. There is no audio, but I found the sound of the engines to be comforting. Enjoy.



Direct link to video

Reflections on the Huey Helicopter for wildland firefighting

When I decided to devote this blog to aerial wildland firefightings and related concerns back in January 2009, I began by writing about the UH-1H super Huey helicopters (Bell Helicopters) service for wildland firefighting. I don't quite recall why I started with Huey's. It might of been as simple as my friend aviation historian friend and former airtanker pilot suggesting that I start by writing about Huey helicopters. But I think it is safe to say that I was probably already vaguely familiar with the Huey, if for no reason then I had heard the Huey's were used in Vietnam.

I have seen a couple Huey's up close and personal, two through visit to two airbases of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) who flies two Huey's (Delta 5 and Delta 6) with 300 gallon (approximate) bambi buckets. On a 2011 visit to San Diego, I took a drive to CAL Fire's Ramona air attack base where I was able to get up close with their Huey.

I know from reading Bill Gabbert's Fire Aviation site that CAL FIRE, is in the process of getting new Firehawk helicopters, see for example his October 2019 post on a Firehawk arriving in Sacramento. So it stands to reason that the site of a Huey working a fire in California will be a memory in a couple of years. To the best of my knowledge the NJFFS Hueys are remaining in service. Other states currently have or have had Huey's in service fighting wildfires, such as North Carolina.

Huey's will always be special to me because they were they were the first firefighting aircraft that I wrote about and because I have seen at least three, possibly more up close and personal. There is a certain elegance in watching helicopters work a fire. Because they can go to a water source to dip and fill their buckets they are an important aerial resource to support the wildland firefighters on the ground. They can make quite a number of drops on a fire, and the closer the water sources is to the fire the more drops they can make.

Enjoy these three videos showcasing Huey's working a fire.

North Carolina


Direct link to video


New Jersey


Direct link to video


CAL FIRE (16 minutes)


Direct link to video

Reflections on the A-26 service as an airtanker in Canada

The Douglas A-26 Invader has been retired from active service as an air tanker for many years now. A few years ago I got interested in the Douglas A-26 Invader's service as an air tanker in Canada and wrote a 13-part series, you might want to check out some photos here and here. In the final post in that series, I offered my reflections on the A-26's service as an air tanker in Canada, here is an excerpt:

You served long and well flying fires in Canada, in some cases serving as a tanker in the U.S, and before that your military service. You were and are loved by all those who came in contact with you during your years of service as an air tanker in Canada. … 

Thank-you for you for your long service in Canada. I wish that I had known you then, but I've been privileged to know you through a couple of pilots who flew you, through the videos that I have seen and the material that I read on the internet. Perhaps one day I'll get to meet one of your kind in a museum. Or even better, to see one of your kind flying.  

I love you too. Someday we will both be flying in favorable tail winds and we can fly together. 

Over five years have passed since I wrote that series. I still love the A-26, and as time goes by I wonder if I will ever get to see her fly. But that doesn't matter, because I can close my eyes and see her fly in my meditations.

I close by sharing a video of an A-26 air tanker flying a wildfire, including some shots from inside the cockpit.


Direct link to video

Reflections on Aero Union's P-3 Orion Air Tanker

When I started to write about aerial wildland firefighting over 10 years ago, I quickly learned about Aero Union's P-3 orion air tanker. I never had the opportunity to know one of her pilots nor did I ever meet her in person. But that does not matter because I got to know her through her reputation and through a myriad of videos of air tanker operations over wildfires. With tanks carrying up to 3,000 gallons of retardant, she was a valuable resource. I loved watching videos of her dropping on fires. Even better was watching her work wildfires in the western United States on live stream.

Those days are gone. The U.S Forest Service cancelled its contracts for Aero Union's P-3's in the summer of 2011. Bill Gabbert of Fire Aviation writes about the efforts to bring the P-3 back to wildland firefighting configuration here.

I want to honor the work of Aero Union's P-3 tankers. I can think of no better way to do so then by sharing a couple of my favorite videos. The first one has no sound For the record, there was a version with sound and a snappy musical track, but I can no longer find it online. Even without sound you will get to see the P-3  working wildfires. 

Direct link to video on Youtube

The second video was done by Scorched Sky Productions in 2011 as a tribute to Aero Union's P-3 tanker after Aero Union lost it's USFS contract.

Direct link to video by Scorched Sky Productions

Reflections on the CH-47 Chinook Helicopter

Direct link to video

I became more familiar with the CH-47 Chinook Helicopter about 10 years ago thanks to a good friend of mine who worked with the CH-47 while he was in the military. He was either a flight engineer or a mechanic, I am not sure which. Needless to say, he loved the CH-47 and suggested I learn more about the CH-47 as he knew that they were used for aerial firefighting while he was in the military. He told me to check out Columbia Helicopters and learn more about the CH-47 and the civilian version. I learned a short time later that Columbia holds the type certificate for the civilian version of the CH-47 known as the Columbia 234 Chinook, go here for more information.

I admit that I don't know as much about the CH-47 and her civilian cousin, however, because of my friend I have deep affinity for the CH-47. So when I am perusing videos of aerial wildfire operations, especially wildfires where military reserves have been called into service, I do look out for the CH-47 Chinooks or Columbia's 234 Chinook.  In addition, there are two other helicopter operators that I know of that have CH-47's used for civilian heavy lift operations as well as wildland firefighting operations, Billings and Coulson. Bill Gabbert of Fire Aviation has written several articles on the CH-47 used in firefighting operations that you may find tagged on his site. Bill wrote about Coulson's CH-47 on March 1, March 8, and September 5, 2019. He wrote an article on Billings in January 2019 . There may be other heavy helicopter operators that I do not know about.

In closing, I would be remiss if I did not mention another incident involving the CH-47 that further ignited my affinity for the CH-47. That is, about five years ago, a pilot friend was taking me on a scenic flight, I believe that we were somewhere in eastern Pennsylvania. He was getting flight following so he was getting advisories of aircraft near are flight path. The controller came over the radio telling him to look out for CH-47 flying north, I believe. I do not recall how far away the CH-47 was, at least five miles? Anyway, it took both of us a several seconds before it registered that what we were looking for, the CH-47 helicopter. So, we both looked and spotted her. She seemed small as aircraft are from that distance, but she was easy to spot. I was thrilled beyond words. I still remember that with a smile on my face. I took out my camera and tried to get a picture, a very bad picture. But I tried. But the better image is what I remember. It is the first, last, and only time I have seen a CH-47 in person, so to speak, with my own eyes.

Reflections on the Erickson Air Crane

Yesterday I read a short article  about an Ericsson Air Crane that has or will soon be delivered to the Korean Forest Service., Bill Gabbert of Fire Aviation wrote about this same Air Crane in November while she was still being tested prior to delivery to Korea. This article gave me pause to consider that over the years that I have been writing this blog and looked at countless videos of aerial wildfire operations across the world. Perhaps it is the distinctive look of the Air Crane while she is fire fighting configuration, but I have seen her in several videos while she is in firefighting service outside of the United States. With her large capacity tank, on the order of 3,000 gallons, and her ability to scoop water from a water source, she is a very valuable part of the aerial wildland firefighting fleet of aircraft.

I am not sure if I have seen an Air Crane in New Jersey, if I did I believe that she would have been doing work on utility transmission lines. And It would have been from a distance. 

I am very fond of the Air Crane because she was among the first aerial firefighting aircraft that I wrote about over ten years ago. I am very grateful to Kenny Chapman, long-time pilot of an Erickson Air Crane who answered my questions and walked me through fighting fires with an Air Crane. I occasionally correspond with Kenny over social media, he is a gentleman and he always answers my question. Thank-you Kenny for introducing me to the Air Crane and for giving me a glimpse up close and personal of the Air Crane.

I never tire of the Air Crane and over the years I have shared numerous videos of the Air Crane in action both working wildfires and doing other heavy lifting, you may read them here.

Sometimes a picture, or in this case a video, is indeed worth a thousand words.  I am going to share a 20 minute video about the Ericsson Air Crane by B Dudas Productions where you will see her perform firefighting and other duties. Enjoy.

Direct link to video by B Dudas Productions

2019 wildfire season crew videos: Mill Creek Hotshots

I am back from a short holiday. It is the time of year when I like to post crew videos from this past season. Here is a nice video from the Mill Creek Hotshots with images and videos from their 2019 season. They are based in the San Bernardino National Forest in California. Enjoy.


Direct link to video

Thanksgiving: remember first responders

On this Thanksgiving Eve, I want to pause and remember all first responders who will be working on this Thanksgiving holiday and other holidays to keep us safe and to be there for us in case of emergency. You are away from your family's for at least part of the day. Those of you working a wildfire are away from your family for an even longer period. I remember and I thank-you from the bottom of my heart for your service.

Updated on December 20, 2020: the video that I had linked to in this post is no longer available.

wildfire history: 1980 Panorama Fire San Bernardino CA

It is funny how the mind works. I was recently reflecting on the first wildfire that I remember hearing about. It was November 1980 and I was visiting an Great Aunt for Thanksgiving that year. She took ill suddenly so I took her to the hospital. I had just finished college and was still unemployed so I was able to extend my visit. She and I were close. She had no children, but I spent some time communicating with my family want was going on. And I visited her in the hospital.

I had a lot of time to kill. My Great Aunt had a television so I spent some time watching TV and watching local and national news. That is how I heard about what is now known as the Panorama Fire, only I don't think I knew it by that name. As I recall, I heard about this fire on a few news broadcasts in late November. Perhaps it was because of my Great Aunt's illness, she died about three weeks later, what is now known as the Panorama Fire is seared in my memory. No, I did not remember the facts of the fire which I will get to in a moment. But I can say that I knew that it was a bad wildfire with much destruction.

At some point after I began this blog on aerial wildland firefighting, I thought about that fire that burned in San Bernardino in late November of 1980 because it was the first wildfire that I can honestly say made an impression on me. I found some stats on the internet. According to this short wikipedia article on the Panorama Fire, the Panorama Fire was first reported on November 24, 1980, burned 28,800 acres killed four people, destroyed over 300 homes, and damaged another 113 homes. The fire was attributed to arson. The fire was fully contained on December 1, 1980. I also found a nice short 2015 article on the Alpen Horn News by Douglas W. Motley and Rhea-Frances Tetley with a summary of the Panorama Fire.

Here is a nice video, under 10 minutes. You will hear Sue Payne, a survivor of the Panorama Fire share her story and memories of the fire.


Direct link to video uploaded by Norman Feldheym SBPL

Camp Fire: State of CA announces completion of structural debris removal

As we have know passed the one year anniversary (November 8, 2018) of the Camp Fire in Paradise that destroyed over 18,000 buildings in Paradise California. see this CAL Fire incident page for more information about the Camp Fire. I wrote a few articles earlier this year on hazardous waste clean-up and debris removal following the Camp Fire and other fires that burned in California in 2018. In particular, you may want to read my February 13, 2019 and my March 1, 2018 articles.

I had been wondering what was happening with the progress being made on the hazardous waste and debris removal in Paradise and environs following the Camp Fire. I got my answer in a November 19th report from ABC7 KRCR news Redding CA):

The State of California announced in Paradise Tuesday the completion of its structural debris removal operation following the November 8 Camp Fire. 

FEMA and CAL-OES and other entities teamed to clear nearly 11,000 properties of structural damage in nine months time from when they started the process.

Debris removal from 300 properties is not yet completed because the owners are using private contractors. Hopefully rebuilding can begin.

Here is an August 29th article (with a paywall) from the Mercury News on the progress of the post-fire clean-up after the Camp Fire as of late August 2019.

I am not going to underestimate the complexity of the process of hazardous waste and debris removal following a wildfire of the magnitude of the Camp Fire. It is complicated. And writing from New Jersey, I have no first hand knowledge of the process. My hat is off to all contractors who have been involved in the debris removal. My wishes for the residents and business owners who can now rebuild their properties is that the rebuilding goes forward as well as can be expected. As I write this the Town of Paradise Butte County Recovers website is still up chock full of a variety of information on the recovery from the Camp Fire.

Here is a video report from ABC 10 (Sacramento CA) on the rebuilding efforts in Paradise:


Direct link to video from ABC10

2019 wildfire season: NJFFS crews deployed to VA (November 21st)

To the best of my knowledge, the 20 person New Jersey State Forest Fire Service that was deployed to the Kennedy Peak Fire on or about November 17th, see my November 18th article    , is still working the Kennedy Peak Fire . The fire has burned 730 acres and is at 75 percent containment. Photos of the fire may be on found on this inciweb photo page. 

According to this ABC3 WHSV report   the fire is burning in remote, steep, and rugged terrain; wildland firefighters have to hike 3.5 miles to get to the control lines. 

I do not know if any aerial resources are being used in the fire. No residential areas are threatened. 

I know that the NJFFS crew continues to hard to help contain the fire. Your work is appreciated and you honor New Jersey by your work. 

2019 wildfire season: New Jersey Forest Fire Service crews deployed to Virginia

Yesterday, one of my friends told me that the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) was deployed a twenty person crew over the weekend to the Kennedy Peak Fire in Virginia. As I write this the Kennedy Peak fire has burned 411 acres in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in Page and Shenandoah Counties, near Roanoke, Virginia. It is at twenty percent containment. I understand that the fire grew from a little over 100 acres to 411 acres over the weekend due to high winds. The fire is burning in rugged terrain. The fire was first reported on Thursday afternoon, November 14th. More information about the Kennedy Peak fire may be found on this inciweb page. A news report with a video about the fire may be found at WHSV3.

I am very proud of the NJFFS crew working the Kennedy Peak Fire, you honor New Jersey with your service. Stay safe.

I do not know how long the NJFFS crew will be deployed to the Kennedy Peak Fire. Deployments are usually for a maximum of two weeks.

Screen shot obtained on 11/18/19 from https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6660/#

The Lives We Lost: Camp Fire, Paradise CA, one year later

On November 7, 2018 the Camp Fire burned through Paradise California, killing 85 people and destroying over 14,000 homes. Paradise and surrounding communities are still rebuilding, a process that may take years. This documentary from ABC 10 in Sacramento California, The Lives We Lost, gives us a glimpse into Paradise one year after the Camp Fire, but more importantly remembering those who died. It is a moving story focusing both on the emotional and psychological trauma of the survivors, but also of resilience. Some may not come back to Paradise, but others can not think of living anywhere else. Allow 22 minutes to watch the video.


Direct link to video from ABC10 in Sacramento California

Australia 2019-20 bushfire season: November 12th

I have noted that areas of Australia, especially New South Wales have seen extreme fire danger recently with hot and dry summer weather. Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today has been reporting on the bush fires in New South Wales (NSW) recently, see his November 8th article on homes destroyed in NSW Bush Fires, his November 10th article on extreme bush fire weather expected on November 11th in NSW and his article earlier today (November 13th) on tanker and helicopter contracts in Australia.

Here are two video news reports on the recent bush fire activity in Australia.


direct link to November 11th video on youtube


direct link to November 12th video on youtube