Red Flag warnings for NJ and environs, and NJ wildfire activity for April 23rd

Red Flag Warning
I knew yesterday that there could be Red Flag warnings today in New Jersey, and I was correct. The National Weather Service in Mt. Holly did issue a Red Flag Warning
for their forecast area (most of New JerseyJ, Deleware, portions of Maryland, and southeastern Pennsylvania). There are also Red Flag Warnings into the remaining portions of Maryland, New Jersey, portions of NY (including NYC and Long Island) as well as portions of Virginia and West Virginia. I have my hands full, so to speak following some scanner feed from the NJ Forest Fire Service (Div. B - Central NJ and some channels from Div. A and Div. C - southern NJ. The National Weather Service at Mt. Holly NJ has issued a fire weather watch for Thursday, April 24. To read more about today's Red Flag Warning and tomorrow's fire weather watch, read this article from the Hunterdon Democrat (article written before Red Flag Warnings were raised for northeastern New Jersey and adjoining areas of New York), but you'll get the idea. I'm not posting any links from the National Weather Service because the links expire or are revised as conditions warrant. But if you look at the right side of this page under New Jersey Forest Fire Service, there should be current information and links.

Northern and Central New Jersey
Earlier this morning and again later this afternoon, I was listening to the Div. B scanner feed from broadcastify. As I was listening, I heard mention of at least a couple of  wildfires in Div. B (central New Jersey), and possibly a wildfire in Division A (northern New Jersey) including references to Bravo 1 working two fires, possibly more. When I scanned the local media outlets about an hour ago, I saw no mention of the wildfires that I heard about on the scanner feed. If for example, these wildfires were contained at a small size, they may not warrant media attention. Of course, I'll keep my eyes open, and if I see any media reports of wildfires in northern and central New Jersey, I'll post them later.

Wildfire in southern NJ
About an hour ago, I was scanning several media outlets when I saw an article on the Press of Atlantic City reporting on a wildfire in Downe Township, NJ reporting that the fire began about 3 PM, has burned about 225 acres so far and it is burning in an area with no nearby residential areas. I then went to  the New Jersey Forest Fire Service Section B10 website to see if they were reporting on any wildfire activity and saw reference to this same fire in Downe Township, going on to say that two aircraft are working the fire SEAT Charlie 2 (Air Tractor 602) and the Huey Helicopter  (with bucket), Delta 6.

For more information on the fire in Downe Twshp and a discussion of today's Red Flag Warning read this report from ABC6 news in Philadelphia. There is also a report on the fire from the South Jersey Times.

Wildfire in Vernon Twnsp (Sussex County) NJ

Thanks to my friends at the NJ Forest Fire Service Section B10 website for bringing a wildfire in Vernon Township, NJ to my attention. The fire started near Wawayanda State Park on a steep ridge, with one or two New Jersey Forest Fire Service Helicopters with buckets working the fire. Approximately 75 to 100 acres have burned. No homes are threatened. The fire started on Monday evening, April 20 at about 6:00 PM. In an article dated today, April 22 at 5:51 PM, The NJ Herald is reporting that the fire is contained.

Video of NJ Forest Fire Service Helicopter dropping water on wildfire in Vernon Township, NJ
New Jersey Herald
direct link to video

Video of NJ Forest Fire Service Helicopter and bucket dipping from Lake in support of wildfire in Vernon Township, NJ
New Jersey Herald
direct link to video

Spring Wildfire Season continues in NJ - Easter update

The current fire danger reported by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (which may change by the time you read this) is rated as high in northern and souther New Jersey and extreme in central New Jersey. The current fire danger may be found here. We haven't had any rain  in my part of New Jersey since last Tuesday and are due from some more rain late tomorrow night into early Wednesday.

As I write this, I am listening to online scanner feed from NJ Forest Fire Service Division B (go broadcastify link here which I understand sometimes picks up feed for Division A (where I live). I was listening to this same scanner feed earlier today (in the morning). What I can say is that the scanner traffic that I am hearing suggests that there has been some wildfire activity in central and northern New Jersey. Moreover, SEATs may have worked a couple of these fires. With one exception that I'll write about in a bit, I do not know the size or the exact location of these wildfires. Just hearing about a three-quarter acre fire somewhere in Division B (central Jersey) that is close to being contained and is in mop-up.

Just a little while ago I heard a report that a 3 acre fire somewhere in Division B (Central Jersey) was under control, that Bravo 1 (Air Tractor 602) made one drop. There may have been other fires. I am always happy to hear of one of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service SEATs working a smaller fire that is now under control. One drop on a three-acre wild fire can make all the difference in helping to keep the fire to a small size, making the job of the firefighters on the ground a little easier.

There were some wildfires in northern New Jersey that got the attention of local media over this past weekend. One was a fire of unknown size that burned in Jefferson NJ on the Newark Watershed Property, see tis article from the NJHerald on April 18th wildfire on Newark Watershed Property.

Also on Saturday the 18th, several brush fires were ignited along some railroad tracks in Warren County, perhaps ignited by some brush that caught under a special Easter Bunny excursion train. The train was held up for a couple of hours while wildland firefighters, a single-engine airtanker and a helicopter with a bucket fought these fires. For more on these fires:

• Lehigh Valley Live on the brush fires along the railroad tracks in Warren County, and a later update on these brush fires may be found here.
• WFMZ 69 News in Allentown PA reported on the brush fires along the railroad tracks in Warren County, New Jersey (Warren county adjoins Pennsylvania) reported on these fires here with a nice photo montage.

My friends from Downstown did tell me this morning that the SEAT based at Andover/Aeroflex, Alpha 3, flew for three hours on Saturday, confirming the reports of tanker activity in the media accounts.

I end with this short clip of one of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service Helos with a bucket (it may be Delta 6, but I'm not sure) filling her bucket on Saturday, April 18. I don't know the exact location where this was shot, but I am pretty certain that is somewhere in northern New Jersey.



direct link to video on LiveLeak

Fire in the Pine Barrens -- April 21, 1963 -- 51 years later

I believe that I first heard about Black Saturday in the Pine Barrens --  April 21, 1963 when 183,000 acres in the New Jersey Pine Barrens burned -- when I read John McPhee's book The Pine Barrens (1967).  John McPhee writes:

On April 20, 1963, the day of the forest fire in the recorded history of the Pine Barrens, the burning index shot past two hundred into interminable beyond, It was not a particularly hot day, but the vegetation was still in the cured staff, winds war blowing at about fifty miles an hour, and there was a drought. Once a fire got started, there was not much chance that it could be controlled. Actually, twelve non-continguous major fires started on that day. … The fire was so hot that it caused the surfaces of macadam roads to form bubbles. Overhead, white piles of smoke went up hundreds of feed, and against this white background, now and again, appeared black twister os smoke from pitch. Multiple airdrops were made but did not significantly help (116-7).

In his book The Pine Barrens John McPhee has a chapter on fire in the Pine Barrens. His book is well written and a quick read. If you want to get to know the New Jersey Pine Barrens and don't know where to start, I'd recommend finding a copy to read.

There is a short article in the Burlington County Times on April 16, 2014 with a few photos from the 1963 Black Saturday fires in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, thanks to my friends at New Jersey Forest Fire Service Section B10 website for making me aware of this article.

Added on April 14, 11 AM EDT. I believe that I first learned about how the ecology of the Pine Barrens is adapted to fire from reading John McPhee's book. McPhee writes:

Of all the natural phenomena of the Pine Barrens, the most startling one is the speed with which the vegetation comes back from fire. There has been so much fire in the pines for so many centuries that, through the resulting processes of natural selection. the species that grow there are not only highly flammable but are able to tolerate fire and come back quickly. (McPhee, 1967, The Pine Barrens, p. 118).

That being said, and even though I myself have witnessed how quickly sections of the Pine Barrens burned in the 2007 Warren Grove Fire have come back, a fire of that magnitude (about 15,000 acres) or larger has the potential to cause loss of property and loss of life. I dread the day that we see another fire of the size that burned on Black Saturday in 1963.

The Pinelands Preservation Alliance has some great information on the Pine Barrens and does work advocating for the Pine Barrens. The Pinelands Preservation Alliance has a webpage on Fire in the Pines with some photos and links to two videos, which I've embedded below. You will learn how the ecology of the Pine Barrens depends on fire. The first video is taken from a DVD that the Pinelands Preservation Alliance produced called The Pine Barrens: Up Close and Natural. The second video is a report from NJN News Public Television one year after the 2007 Warren Grove Fire.

Videos of Turbo-Cat dropping on wildfires

Thanks to my friends at Downstown Aero Crop Services who wanted me to share these videos with you. They gave me permission to embed their videos of the Turbo-Cat dropping on some fires on April 13. The videos are posted on Downstown's (public) Facebook Page. I wrote about the Lower Bank Fire on April 14. In that same article on April 14 I wrote about wildfire in Salem City where two brush trucks were destroyed with no injuries, I am not certain if the fire in the first video is the same fire that I wrote about.

Here in New Jersey, our SEATs are doing good work, dropping on wildfires in support of the wildland firefighters on the ground. Nice work everyone. Stay safe!

Out of Service Fire, Salem NJ C-10 4/13/14 (posted April 14)

Post by Downstown Aero Crop Service,Inc.

Lower Bank Fire Turbine Cat Drop (posted April 13)

Post by Downstown Aero Crop Service,Inc.

Drop #2 Lower bank B2 (posted April 13)

Post by Downstown Aero Crop Service,Inc.

Spring fire season in NJ continues - April 13

Spring fire season continues here in New Jersey with all its attendant dangers as outline in this Asbury Park Press article.

This past Sunday (April 13) was a busy day. In Salem City New Jersey a brush fire cropped up in an area dominated by phragmites and other weeds. Two brush vehicles, from the Pennsville and Elsinboro fire departments were destroyed in this wind driven fire. The firefighters in the two vehicles did get out. Approximately 100 acres were burned before the brush fire was brought under control later in the day. A SEAT under contract with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service dropped on the fire. An article with photos from the South Jersey Times reporting on the fire may be found here, and a video which includes a shot of the SEAT from NBC10 in Philadelphia may be found here.

Thanks to my friends at New Jersey Forest Fire Service Section B10 (last updates on April 13 about 1830 to 1900 hours), I know about four more wildfires that burned yesterday in central and southern New Jersey.

• In Atco, Waterford Township (Section C11) a wild fire (size unknown) burned near the Atco Raceway. A single engine airtanker (SEAT) on contract with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service dropped on the fire in support of the wildland firefighters on the ground. The fire was partially contained as of 1900 hours last night.
• A 10 to 20 acre fired burned in Brick Township (Section B8) yesterday with support from a SEAT and a helicopter. The fire is now contained. Article from Newsworks.
• The third fire that I know about (I suspect that there are many I don't know about) has burned approximately 20 acres in Lower Bank (Burlington County, Section B2). Two SEATs and a Huey Helicopter with a bucket dropped on the fire.
• A small, 1/2 acre fire in Manchester (Burlington County) NJ that a SEAT dropped on. Nice job to the SEAT pilot and the ground crews for keeping this fire small, see this this article from OCSignal.

Stay safe everyone!

Revised on April 14 th at 4:25 PM EDT

Edison Fire (New Jersey): Final update

I wrote yesterday about a fire that was burning in Edison New Jersey near the Raritan Center. I understand from this wildland fire hotlist thread that the final acreage for this fire is 193.5 acres burned, and that it was declared under control at 17:20 last night. Go here for the latest update from NJ dot com (with photos).

Stay safe everyone!

Just in -- wildland firefighters battling brush fire (Edison NJ)

I was perusing some media outlets just now when I came across a short report on NJ dot com about a wildfire burning in Edison (Middlesex County) NJ near the Raritan Center, the story from NJ dot com may be found here. I then went to the NJ Forest Fire Section B10 and saw that they just reported on the fire in the "Current NJ Wildfire Activity" section on their homepage (scroll down a bit).

I will update this thread later on as I find out more information on this wildfire.

Update: April 10, 2:50 PM As I write this, this fire, reported at about 11 AM, continues to burn with a noticeable smell of smoke. I'm not quite sure how many acres have burned. I saw a report on News12New Jersey (not publicly available) and also on the the website of NJ Forest Fire Section B10 that a helicopter with a bucket was making drops on the fire.

• Report with video from ABC7 in New York City
• Midafternoon update with pictures from NJ dot com

Update: 6:20 PM Fire has burned approximately 250 acres and according to this report with video by ABC7 in NYC is at 95 percent containment. An updated article (with photos) is also available from NJ dot com.

Enhanced fire danger in NJ continues for April 10

The National Weather Service in Mt. Holly, NJ issued a Special Weather Statement at 9:03 AM on Thursday, April 10 for an enhanced risk of wildfire spread this afternoon:

Low Relative humidity levels, a gusty southwest wind and drying fine fuels will create an elevated risk for the spread of wildfires this afternoon. Wind should be sustained in the 10 to 15 mph range with gusts to 20 mph.
Please do not park vehicles in grassy areas and ensure proper disposal of any smoking materials. It only takes one improperly disposed cigarette to ignite a fire. ...

Yesterday (Wed. April 9) we were also under a risk for enhanced fire danger. I did spend some time on and off yesterday afternoon listening to some online scanner feed for New Jersey Forest Fire Service Division B, hearing several reports of wildfire activity, probably activity that was of smaller acreage. I saw this because I saw no reports in the media, at least what I could find, of wildfire activity. I am reasonably certain that media would pick up on major wildfire activity (100 acres or more), but there may well be activity that I do not know about as well as media reports that I could not find.

I did hear a report, confirmed by my friends at Downstown Aero -- (supply Single Engine Airtankers on contract to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service) -- that Alpha 3 (Ag-Cat, 300 gallons) made one drop on a wildfire in or near Lake Hopatcong NJ (Division A). I do not know the size of the fire. My friends at Downstown Aero did tell me that there were no drops in Division C (southern New Jersey), but got the impression that there were smaller fires that the wildland firefighters on the ground worked.

I'd like to thank all New Jersey Wildland Firefighters on the ground and in the air, various support operations, and mutual aid responders for all you do to keep us safe here in New Jersey! Stay safe everyone!

Devious Mount Fire (NJ) -- contained

As sometimes happens, yesterday got away with me with a few items of personal business that required my attention, so I am only now making the promised post updating the Devious Mount Fire that I wrote about here. The fire burned approximately 1,600 acres and was declared 100 percent contained late in the afternoon on Monday, April 7. As I write this, my friends at the NJ Forest Fire Service Section B10 webpage have a final report on the fire with some nice photos on their home page (just scroll down a bit). According to the NJ Forest Fire Service Section B10 webpage initial resources included:

40 firefighters

7 engines

2 tractor plows

2 Single Engine Airtankers (SEATs)

1 type 3 helicopter

A link to a map showing the location of the fire may be found here here.

The last news report from 6ABC in Philadelphia with a video may be found here. Finally, there is the Wildland Fire hotlist thread for the Devious Mount Fire.

There is enhanced fire risk this afternoon and again tomorrow afternoon here in New Jersey, so I'll be doing my best to try to follow what might be going on. I do have some reflections following up on the Devious Mount Fire that I want to write about, if not later this afternoon then in a day or so.

Devious Mount Wildfire -- NJ Pine Barrens -- midday update

I wrote about the Devious Mount Wildfire a few hours ago, here.

My friends from the  New Jersey Forest Fire Service Section B10 website are reporting that as of 1230 hours (April 6), the Devious Mount Wildfire remains at 1,500 acres and is now 50 percent contained and 30 percent controlled. A nice report from Lisa Rose of the Star Ledger on the wildfire may be found here. The video that I embed below accompanies the Lisa Rose's article, this is a view of the fire from the Garden State Parkway.

As I write this rain is moving into Southern New Jersey which I understand will overspread the whole State as well as adjoining areas by this evening. I am hoping that this rain will only help the wildland firefighting crews contain and then control the fire. I'll write another update later this evening. In the meantime, I used Google Earth to get the following image for you showing you an approximate location of the fire (currently burning in Wharton State Forest) and the rain (in green) moving in (click on the map to enlarge it for better viewing). 

Devious Mount Wildfire -- NJ Pine Barrens #1

Thanks to my friends at New Jersey Forest Fire Service Section B10 for letting me know about the major wildfire -- the Devious Mounty Wildfire -- currently burning in the Wharton State Forest in the NJ Pine Barrens. If you are reading this post today, you can scroll down to where it says "Current NJ Wildfire Activity", you can read the latest update of the Devious Mount Wildfire. If you are coming to this post sometime after this wildfire is contained than you may find different information under "Current NJ Wildfire Activity," but I will have made a post reporting on the containment of that fire.

Anyway according to the report on New Jersey Forest Fire Service Section B10 , as of 8:30 AM, the Devious Mount Wildfire is currently burning in a remote section of Wharton State Forest. The fire is not currently burning near any structures or roads. Approximately 1,500 acres have burned with 30 percent containment. Yesterday (Sunday April 6), Bravo 3 (Ag-Cat under contract with the NJ Forest Fire Service) made multiple drops. There is thread about the Devious Mount Fire on the Wildland Fire Hotlist forums that may be found here, as I write this the information in that thread was from last night and I expect that the thread will be updated as the day progresses.

The smell of smoke from this fire was detected by people as far away as New York City yesterday and into this morning, see this report from NBC 4 in New York City for more information. 

Some of you might be interested in how weather radar can detect smoke, and smoke inversions. If so, my friends at the US National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mt. Holly had a great educational photo with a little meteorology science that they just posted this morning (April 7) on their Facebook Wall, here is a direct link to the photo (that I hope works, you don't need a Facebook account to access the photo).

I will be back later on with updates on this fire.

Spring fire season begins in NJ And PA

New Jersey

Yesterday was the first day that the NJ Forest Fire Service SEATs were on contract for our spring fire season. I was out and about doing some personal chores yesterday afternoon so was not home listening to online scanner feed from the NJ Forest Fire Service (NJFFS Division B online scanner feed,  NJFFS Division C online scanner feed). It was a nice early spring day and I saw evidence that the top layers of the soil had or were drying out after the rains last weekend. As I was driving around, I tuned into WCBS AM (880) and heard a short report, all of perhaps 30 seconds, that there were a few brush fires burning around the region (northern NJ, NYC and adjoining counties including Long Island) and eastern CT). I heard nothing more than that. I wondered if any of the NJFFS SEATs had dropped on a fire in support of the firefighters on the ground. 

I got my answer when I went to Section B10 webpage earlier this afternoon and learned of a nine acre fire that burned in Sussex County NJ off of U.S. Route 206, an area that I've driven by a few times. NJFFS Alpha 3 (Ag Cat) and Delta 6 (helicopter and bucket) worked the fire. In addition, there was a smaller fire elsewhere in Sussex County that took less than 30 minutes to contain according to this report from the NJ Herald.

New Jersey Herald

direct link to video and report from NJ Herald

Pennsylvania

Spring fire season is, or soon will be underway in Pennsylvania, my neighboring State to the west. Here four stories that I heard about courtesy of Wildfire News of the Day:

A trash fire got out of control, burning a couple of acres in Ormsby, PA on April 1 reported by The Bradford Era on April 2, 2014.

A 2.5 acre wildfire  in Blacklick Twsp., PA on March 31 required a few municipal fire companies before the fire was brought under control, from the Indiana Gazette.

I wrote here about Air Tractor 802's Single Engine Air-Tankers that are now on contract in Pennsylvania. I learned from  this article from the Daily American that there is a helitanker at the Somerset County Airport in Pennsylvania.

Finally, there was a nice article in the Bradford Era on April 1 saying that the spring wildfire season in Pennsylvania may be short in some parts of the State because the snow hung around through most of March in the northwestern part of the State. I also learned about the ways the snow melts and how it can affect wildfire danger.

Prescribed burns -- US Fish and Wildlife Private Lands, Iowa

direct link to video

Prescribed Burns - USFS

Over the next three or four posts, I am going to posting about prescribed burns.

This is a video from the United States Forest Service on how they do prescribed burns in the Mark Twain National Forest. I like this video because they talk about the importance of prescribed burns. The specifics of preparing for and conducting prescribed burns in your area may differ from what is shown in this video. And the vegetation may well be different.



direct link to video

Historic footage of the Grumman S2A and TBM Avengers (CDF) and B-26 (Lynch)

Historic footage of the S2A (California Div. of Forestry), TBM Avenger (California Div. of Forestry), and B-26 tankers (Lynch).



direct link to video

Brush fire in NJ Meadowlands (Hudson County)

The nor'easter that is over the atlantic and moving towards Canada may not have any measurable snow in northern New Jersey, but it has left some rather impressive winds. As you can see from the following special weather statement issued by the National Weather Service in New York, NY there is enhanced fire danger in northeastern NJ, New York City and adjoining counties and southern CT. New York City and adjoining counties and southern CT.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
1100 AM EDT WED MAR 26 2014

NORTHERN FAIRFIELD-NORTHERN NEW HAVEN-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX- NORTHERN NEW LONDON-SOUTHERN FAIRFIELD-SOUTHERN NEW HAVEN- SOUTHERN MIDDLESEX-SOUTHERN NEW LONDON-WESTERN PASSAIC- EASTERN PASSAIC-HUDSON-WESTERN BERGEN-EASTERN BERGEN- WESTERN ESSEX-EASTERN ESSEX-WESTERN UNION-EASTERN UNION-ORANGE- PUTNAM-ROCKLAND-NORTHERN WESTCHESTER-SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER- NEW YORK (MANHATTAN)-BRONX-RICHMOND (STATEN ISLAND)- KINGS (BROOKLYN)-NORTHWESTERN SUFFOLK-NORTHEASTERN SUFFOLK- SOUTHWESTERN SUFFOLK-SOUTHEASTERN SUFFOLK-NORTHERN QUEENS- NORTHERN NASSAU-SOUTHERN QUEENS-SOUTHERN NASSAU- 1100 AM EDT WED MAR 26 2014

...WEATHER CONDITIONS TO PROMOTE RAPID SPREAD OF BRUSH FIRE ACTIVITY...

IN THE WAKE OF THE STRONG COASTAL STORM MOVING AWAY TO THE NORTHEAST...STRONG NORTHWESTERLY WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL OCCUR. THE AIR MASS WILL ALSO BECOME QUITE DRY WITH SUNSHINE DEVELOPING...WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES DROPPING BETWEEN 20 AND 30 PERCENT.

THE STORM DID NOT CAUSE WETTING PRECIPITATION. THE MONTH OF MARCH HAS BEEN VERY DRY...WITH DEPARTURES OF OVER TWO INCHES IN MOST LOCATIONS. THESE CONDITIONS HAVE LEFT FINE DEAD FUELS VERY DRY AND SUSCEPTIBLE TO BURN AND SPREAD.

ANY FIRE THAT WOULD IGNITE WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY WITH THESE CONDITIONS PERSISTING THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING.
IF RESIDENTS SHOULD SPOT A FIRE...PLEASE REPORT IT TO THE AUTHORITIES IMMEDIATELY.

With this enhanced fire danger in mind, and knowing that it is spring wildfire season in NJ, I was wondering if there was any wildfires in northeastern NJ. I was not terribly surprised to read that there is a brush fire burning in the NJ Meadowlands in Hudson County NJ. I don't have a lot of details at the moment. As you can see from this article (with a map) from the Jersey Journal multiple fire departments responded. According to a CBS2 (NYC) report, rail service on New Jersey Transit was suspended and is now restored. PATH service was (light rail) between Newark and Jersey City was also suspended and is now restored. By the way the picture on the CBS2 report is on I-280 looking east. I-280 does run near portions of the Meadowlands before it terminates at the New Jersey Turnpike.

To the best of my knowledge the Meadowlands is not in a primary response area of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service but they do provide assistance under mutual aid. I saw a picture of what appears to be a New Jersey Forest Fire Service truck in one of the photos from the Jersey Journal so it seems like at least one of the crew from NJ Forest Fire Service Division A was on scene.

As I lived in a town adjoining the Meadowlands for 16 years and would frequently see brush fires in the Meadowlands outside the window of my apartment, I can attest to the fact that the fire departments in municipalities adjoining the Meadowlands know how to handle these blazes.  I'll update this article later with updates on this brush fire.

4:20 PM Update I'm not quite certain if the brushfire in the NJ Meadowlands in under control, I'm hearing conflicting reports. Two news outlets, CBS2 (NYC) and the Jersey Journal are reporting brush fires in other parts of the region [northern New Jersey, Long Island, and Rockland County (NY)]. The Riverhead News-Review provides a little more detail on brush fires in eastern Long Island.

March 27, 8:55 PM Yesterday's brush fire(s), apparently there were two, in the Meadowlands in Hudson County NJ were both brought under control by early evening on the 26th. See this article from the Jersey Journal for more information. In my various wonderings on the internet and elsewhere I have the impression (and could be wrong) that there were other brush fires on March 26th in northern New Jersey asides from the two in the Meadowlands. I have no specific information nor do I have anything to link to. I can attest to the strong winds yesterday (gusting in the 30 to 40 mph range). Small brush fires are not always covered by local media, but I'll keep my eyes open.

Smokey Bear Hotshots

When tankers and helicopters drop retardant or water/foam on a wildfire they are doing so to support the wildland firefighters on the ground. There are many types of wildland firefighting crews. The video that I am embedding below shows one type of wildland firefighting crew, a hotshot crew. Hotshots or type 1 crews are highly experienced wildland firefighters, to read a little more about hotshot crews, read this page about hotshots from the U.S. Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management website.

This is a video showing the 2013 season of the Smokey Bear Hotshot Crew. The Smokey Bear Hotshot Crew is based at Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico. You might want to read a little more about the history of the Smokey Bear Hotshots and how they got there name by going to the Smokey Bear Hotshot webpage on the Lincoln National Forest. They also have a page of photos on Flickr (go here for that page).

Allow just under 10 minutes to watch the video, some of it is time lapse videography. Towards the later half of the video you will see a couple of airtankers including what looks to me like a Single Engine Airtanker dropping retardant on a fire in support of the Smokey Bear hotshots and other firefighters on the ground as well as a helicopter and bucket.



direct link to video

Stay safe everyone!

Spring Fire Season is almost upon us here in New Jersey

As some of you no doubt know, it has been an interesting winter here in New Jersey and elsewhere in the northeast and the mid-atlantic regions of the United States. And spring is or was upon us yesterday. And with spring comes the spring fire season here in New Jersey. I suppose you get what you wish for, and I was hoping for wet winter, with rain and not snow. But we got snow instead. But even with all of our snowfall, I know that it doesn't take all that long for the ground to dry out and lead to wildfire danger. I can look around my region and see the leaf litter, and can see that the top part of the soil drying out. And then there are always the trees which can catch fire in the form of crown fires. Point being that I have learned never to be complacent or think that a wildfire can not happen. It can always happen.

As you can see from the current New Jersey Forest Fire Service 2014 Contract Aircraft Schedule, also posted in red near the top right side of my blog, our aircraft (single engine air tankers aka SEATs) begin to go on contract starting on March 28th. We have one SEAT in each division, down from as much as ten SEATs covering the State a few years ago (see this article I wrote a couple of years ago. Three SEATs are not enough.

New Jersey Forest Fire Service -- 2014 Contract Aircraft (Revised March 12, 2014)

Division A - Aeroflex

Alpha-3, 300 gallon Ag Cat -- March 29 to May 4 (37 days)

Division B -- Miller Air

Bravo-3, 300 gallon Ag Cat -- April 3 to April 17 (15 days)

Bravo-1, 600 gallon Air Tractor 602 -- April 18 to May 11 (24 days)

Division C -- Downstown

Charlie-2, 400 gallon Turbine Ag Cat -- March 28 to April 19 (23 days)

Charlie-1, 600 gallon Air Tractor 602 -- April 20 to May 12 (23 days)

1 is the designator for the 602 Air Tractor (600 gallons)

2 is the designator for the 400 gallon turbine powered Ag cat.

3 is the designator for the 300 gallon Ag Cat.

4 is the designator (if needed) for a second 300 gallon Ag Cat.

Mid-Atlantic: Brush Fire, Rx Burn, and SEATs

Some news from New York City, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania as we prepare to enter the spring fire season in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S.

Brush Fire in Queens - Howard Beach

On Saturday evening March 15, 2014 a brush burned in a marsh near Howard Beach in Queens, the fire was brought under control in two to three hours.

direct link to video

For more on this fire check out a NewsDay article and a NY Daily News article

Prescribed or Controlled burning in New Jersey

New Jersey Forest Fire Service Firefighters have been conducting prescribed or controlled burns around the State. An article with an embedded video of a Prescribed burn at Monmouth Battlefield State Park in New Jersey from Newsworks may be found here. There is a short article on prescribed burns that were done the weekend of March 15 and 16th on NJ dot com; the article discusses some legislation pending in the NJ legislature that will mean more prescribed burns if the bill is passed and signed into law as written.

SEATS in Pennsylvania

Finally, two Air Tractor 802's (SEATs)  will go on contract for the spring fire season in Pennsylvania starting March 29 through early May. The SEATs will be based at the Mid State Airport in PA. For more information please read this article from the Gant Daily.

A very brief introduction to winter maintenance

Regular maintenance is important to any aircraft operation whether it be the owner of small plane, a tour operation, charter operation, airline. military, rescue or aerial firefighting. 

Aircraft used in aerial firefighting may only be active for the period when they are paid by the contracting agency to be available for aerial firefighting duties. Sometimes these aircraft are only used part of the year. At other times, and depending on the business the operator is in and the type of aircraft they fly, the contractor will be flying their aircraft through out the year.

As many of you know, when an aircraft hasn't been flown in awhile, it doesn't come out of the hanger ready to fly, maintenance is performed. Many operators have what is sometimes known as a winter maintenance period when maintenance that requires a lot of time is performed by their maintenance staff. Of course, aircraft are maintained year round, not just in the winter or off season. Maintenance checks are preformed through out the year. I am in the process of putting together some articles focusing on winter maintenance. I am not quite sure when these articles will be ready, could be at least a couple of weeks, if not longer.

In the meantime here is an article that peaked my interest in winter maintenance, a press release from the American Helicopter Services and Aerial Firefighting Association that may be found here. You will learn a little about winter maintenance performed by Columbia Helicopters and Neptune Aviation in what has turned out to be an earlier fire season out west.

A-26 Tankers in Canada: Reflections (part 13 of 13)

To the A-26 tankers who flew in Canada:

I wish I could met one of your kind when you were flying fires in Canada. You were capable of flying at a high rate of speed so that you were able to cover vast distances from base to fire and back for reload fairly quickly. I hear that you were fun to fly. 

• What stories you could tell:
• Stories of flying with other members of your group and your birddog from base to fire, 
• Stories of fun on the ramp and being washed at the end of the day, 
• Stories from the crews at the bases who filled your belly with retardant,
• Stories from dispatchers 
• Stories from other ground and ramp crews at the various bases where you flew,
• Stories of being loved by your mech who kept you running at peak efficiency, 
• Stories of flying the fires to help the crews on the ground fight wildfires, 
• Stories about your pilots who flew you, 
• and stories the wildland firefighting crews on the ground on the fires you flew.

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 airtanker in Canada.

How many wildfires did you fly over your many years of service? How many gallons of retardant did you drop? A lot, the numbers don't matter. What matters is that you flew fires and dropped retardant.

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.

________________

Note: To see a list of all the articles in this series go here.

Tanker Notes - updates on status for the 2014 season

With many thanks to Bill Gabbert of Fire Aviation, I can provide a somewhat overdue article on the status of heavy tankers as we move towards Spring 2014. Bill does a fine job of keeping up with and reporting on the current status of aviation resources used in aerial firefighting in  Fire Aviation, and other wildland firefighting news in Wildfire Today. Some of you may already follow Bill's blogs and are already up to speed. With the exception of a couple of articles from Missoulian, all the articles that I link to are from Bill Gabbert's Fire Aviation.

Neptune Aviation Legacy contract

On February 12, Fire Aviation reported on the status of Neptune Aviation's Legacy contract under which Neptune Aviation will supply six Lockheed P-2V tankers and one BAe-146 jet tanker this coming fire season.

US Forest Service to acquire C-130's

Bill Gabbert of Fire Aviation has written many articles reporting on the transfer of seven C-130H aircraft to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) for conversion to air tankers (Fire Aviation 12/20/13).  See for example Bill's article on the passage of the Defense Bill clearing the way for these transfers and the transfer of up to 15 C-23B +S Sherpas to the Smoke Jumping Division. You might also want to read his article on January 4 that two of the C-130's may not need major maintenance an article on January 11 about wing box replacement, and an article on January 14 about the management of the C-130 tankers.

The Missoulian reports on USFS's acquisition of the seven C-130s in an article by Rob Chaney on January 7.

A history of the Sole Source Air Tanker Award 

I reported on January 8, 2014 that The Sole Source Contract awarded Neptune Aviation is under protest. I understand that a decision by the GAO is still due by March 28, 2014. Yesterday, March 11, Bill Gabbert wrote an excellent article reviewing the history and developments behind the sole source air tanker award to Neptune Aviation. I commend this fine piece of reporting to you.

I had been wondering about the status of the Next Generation Tanker Contract and was glad to see that Bill provides an update in his March 11th article on the Sole Source Tanker Award. Recall that only two of the seven tankers under the Next Generation Contract flew in 2013, the DC-10 tanker and Coulson's C-130Q tanker. 

The other five missed their contractual start dates and in September the USFS issued “cure notices” to the three companies. The USFS contracting officer established new mandatory availability period (MAP) dates of March 30, 2014 (Minden), May 3 and 7, 2014 (Aero Air), and May 20 and 28, 2014 (Aero Flite). Fire Aviation, March 11, 2014, A sole source air tanker award, and how it developed.

You might also want to read this January 7th article by Rob Chaney in the Missoulian about the protest of the sole source contract.

Lead Planes

Speaking of jets, on February 27, Bill reported that the Bureau of Land Management has awarded the first contract for a jet-powered lead plane (A Citation CJ) in 2014. Bill reports on the USFS lead planes and ATGS platforms in an article he posted on February 28.

Bush Firefighting in Australia - engine crew with support from AirCrane

I hope you this video of the Mt. Macedon CFA brigade from Australia fighting brush fires on Feb. 23, 2014. You will also see what I think is an Air Crane dropping on the same fire, perhaps in support of the crews on the ground. What I like about this video and one of the reasons why I am sharing this with you is because it shows that air tankers and helos work in the air to support crews on the ground (whether they be in engines or on foot). I also enjoyed seeing this brigade in action doing what they do best.

Enjoy!



Direct link to video

CL-415 super scooper in action

I am taking a day off today to have some fun and play a little. I was looking around for a tanker video to share with you I found the following video through my friends at the New Jersey Forest Fire Service Section B-10's fire videos of the week page. Each week they share four new wildland firefighting videos. Depending on when you read this and access the NJFFS Section B-10 webpage, you may see a new set of videos. If so, they will be worth watching.

This is a nice video, a little under five minutes of a pair of CL-415's working fires and scooping water along with some cool cockpit shots.



Direct link to video

Scenic flight to Lancaster

It has been quite awhile since I have written about a scenic flight on this blog. This is partly because I haven't been on such a flight in five months. Various things such as end of the year holidays, a cold and then sinus problems that did not clear up until mid-January and finally bad winter weather kept me from flying. So, I went on a scenic flight to KLNS, Lancaster Airport in Pennsylvania with a great pilot whom I have flown with many time before. She and I always have a great time. Upon landing at KLNS we visited the pilot shop where I picked up some aviation charts. The weather was on the cold side, but the Cessna 172P was heated. Winds were light, some clouds at 5,000 ft. Snow still on the ground. I have included a few photos from the flight.

It was wonderful to be in the air again. I was home. I am hoping to go on another scenic flight in about three weeks. And if not, I'll fly in my own way as I have been doing for the last five months preceding today's flight.

Flying west over the Delaware River near Frenchtown, NJ

Over eastern Pennsylvania

Over eastern Pennsylvania

Taking off from KLNS on way home

On approach to home airport, windsock

 

Home again

Erickson Air Crane - Transmission Tower Construction in NJ

Every so often one of my friends will tell me that thought of me when they saw a helicopter working on electric transmission lines So when I found this video from my friends at Erickson AirCrane on Youtube the other day I just had to post it. Enjoy.



direct link to video

A-26 Tankers in Canada - last article to come

I have one more article to write about A-26 Tankers in Canada, something I am calling a reflections piece. I admit that I have yet to write this. Often when I work on series such as the one on A-26 Tankers in Canada I write a reflections piece that I post as the last article in the series. I sometimes like to wait until after I have finished the bulk of the series to write this piece. As sometimes happens, I am a little behind, and I don't want to rush into writing my reflections. I hope to get something out in a couple of weeks.

In the meantime, stay safe out there.

A-26 Tankers in Canada: Air Spray's A-26 fleet in 1994 (part 12 of 13)

I'd like to thank a friend of mine who told about a great article written by W.M. "Turbo" Tarling

in 1994, called Invaders from Red Deer.  Yes, as you might have guessed, the article is about Air Spray's A-26 Tankers in 1994. Turbo retired from the Canadian Air Force when he reached mandatory retirement age in 1982 with 11,645 flying hours in 50 different types of aircraft (go here for info on Turbo's flying time). After he retired he spent 17 seasons flying for Air Spray in Alberta where he flew the Douglas A-26. Turbo has a webpage with some articles, photo galleries and other information.

What I like about Invaders from Red Deer is that Turbo paints a portrait of a moment in time -- 1994 -- in Red Deer Alberta. After taking you through the history of Red Deer Industrial Airport, formerly RCAF Station Penfield. He then brings you up to 1994 where he introduces you to Air Spray's fleet that included 18 Douglas A-26 Invaders. He walks you through winter maintenance of Air Spray's aircraft, pilot refresher training, history and terminology of the A-26, walk around the A-26 outside and inside, flying the A-26 tanker, firefighting, and a photo gallery. 

The article is long, and well worth reading. I especially enjoyed Turbo's descriptions of flying the A-26. I felt like I was in the cockpit with him, as a quiet observer taking it all in. So, buckle up and enjoy the ride as you read Invaders from Red Deer.

Note: I wrote an article about Air Spray on February 10 where I wrote about a fire in one of Air Spray's hangers in 2000 that destroyed some A-26 tankers. The last year that Air Spray flew A-26 tankers was in 2004. Two photos of Air Spray A-26's may be found here and I shared some videos of Air Spray's A-26 tankers by MrFlyerboy101 on Feb. 17, Feb. 19, Feb. 21, and Feb. 26.

Updated on December 20, 2020: Unfortunately the links to "Turbo" Tarling's 1994 article, Invaders from Red Deer are now expired. A retired tanker pilot with whom I am no longer in contact in Canada told about Turbo's article at the time I was writing these articles on the Douglas A-26 Invader. If memory serves all the information in this article was on a webpage. I regret that at the time I wrote this post that I did not write a little about Turbo in this post and cite a couple of passages from his article. More recently, knowing that sometimes links go dead, I will write a little more in my post so that it may make sense if one or more links go dead. 

A-26 Tankers in Canada: flying fires in an A-26 (part 11 of 13)

I can't not share one more video from MrFlyerboy101, this one includes historic footage shot from the cockpit of an A-26 tanker flying fires in Alberta Canada. Enjoy!



Direct link to video

A-26 Tankers in Canada: flying the A-26 (training video) (part 10 of 13)

In this article and the next articles I will be focusing on sharing videos (today and on the 26th) and an article (on Feb. 28th) relating to flying the A-26. Today I will be sharing a 1945 era training video on flying the A-26 that I first shared on March 1, 2013. Recall that a friend of mine who used to fly an A-26 tanker in Canada shared the video with me saying that he agreed with the techniques presented in the video. Since that time at least one other former A-26 pilot told me that he too agreed with these techniques.



direct link to video

A-26 Tankers in Canada: enroute (part 9 of 13)

I close out the this part my series on A-26 tankers in Canada with a third video from MrFlyerBoy101 showing a group of Air Spray A-26 tankers and their birddog enroute to Ft. McMurray. Allow 14 minutes for the video (it might take a couple of minutes to load and the sound is a little funky, but you should be able to hear the pilots talking to each other over the radio.) 

Added on October 21, 2016: The video that I had originally shared here is no longer available so I have removed the code.

I will continue this series next week with four more articles. I will post a revised scheduled later this evening or tomorrow. 

A-26 Tankers in Canada: take-off (part 8 of 13)

Here is another video from MrFlyerBoy101 showing a group of Air Spray A-26 Tankers (1,3,14,12) and their Birddog taking off. The video ends with T-12 landing. Allow about five minutes for the video. According to the information supplied by MrFlyerBoy101accompanying the video, the personnel in the aircraft you will see are: Gordon Sherman (T-1), Arnie Schreder (T-3), Butch Foster (T-12), Ted Stenton (T-14) and Dave Poole (Rooster) in the Birdog.

direct link to video

A-26 Tankers in Canada: on the ramp (part 7 of 13)

Here is a video from MrFlyerBoy101 of some of Air Spray's A-26 tankers on the ramp at Smithers in British Columbia with a bit of fun thrown in.

direct link to video

A-26 Tankers in Canada: Air Spray A-26 Tankers 31 and 36 (part 6 of 13)

I'd like to thank Peter Mitchell who flew A-26 tankers (and other tankers) for both Air Spray and Conair some years back for two photos that he wanted me to share with you: photos of T-31 and T-36.

The Warbirds Registry has a page on the history of T-31 (serial # 44-35893) and T-36 (serial # 44-35456). Of note, Air Spray purchased both of these A-26 tankers from Conair. Air Spray bought the
A-26 (serial # 44-35456) that was to become T-36 from Conair in 1983. Before that she flew as Conair
T-26 from 1972 to 1983.

Air Spray T-36

A-26 (Serial # 44-35893) flew for Conair as T-31 from 1974 through 1982. Sometime in 1982, Conair sold her to Air Spray, where she kept her T-31 designation. She flew for another twenty years (give or take).

Air Spray T-31

A-26 Tankers in Canada: Conair A-26 Tanker 28 (part 5 of 13)

Conair T-28 "Blue Canoe"

I have always liked Conair's T-28 because she started out in a blue and white paint scheme as you can see in the photo. One of my tanker pilot friends from Canada referred to her with some affection as the "Blue Canoe." I'm not quite sure when, but sometime before 1983 she was repainted in the Conair paint scheme as shown in a 1983 photo of Conair's livery of Tankers in the History of Aviation in the BC Forest Service: Part 2 Air Tanker Operations (2011, p. 18).

Conair acquired her in April 1974, selling her in November 1988. Assuming that she was flying through the summer of 1988 she would have flown for 14 or 15 seasons depending on how long it took to convert her to tanker configuration. For more information about her history, see the Warbirds Registry page on T-28 (Serial # 44-34520).

Thanks to Maureen Wilson for the photograph of T-28.

A-26 Tankers in Canada: Operators -- Air Spray (part 4 of 13)

Air Spray whose corporate offices are in Edmonton, Alberta was founded in 1967, see Air Spray's history page.  Air Spray's founder, Don Hamilton, started the company with one A-26 and a Cessna 310 (birddog) aircraft.  Air Spray acquired one A-26 that was converted for firefighting in 1970 and paired with a Cessna 310 Bird Dog aircraft. Air Spray eventually had 18 A-26 tankers flying them the A-26 into the 2000s. Air Spray finally retired all of their remaining A-26 tankers after the end of the 2004 fire season (see an article by Ruud Leeuw on his 2006 visit to Air Spray's maintenance hanger in Red Deer Alberta, scroll down a bit past some photos of a couple of Lockheed L188 Electras where he writes about Air Spray's A-26 Invaders). Before I go on, some of you will recall that the Douglas A-26 Invader went through a couple of changes in her designation, being designated the B-26 from 1948 through 1962, I write about the changes in her military designation here.

In the course of reading up on Air Spray, I came across a nice article from the November/December 2009 edition of Wings on Air Spray called Position Report: Vintage planes dousing flames (A position report on Air Spray) by Frederick K. Larkin. Wings is an aviation magazine focusing on Canadian aviation.  learned a little more about the history of Air Spray thanks to Larkin's article. That is, David Harrington started the company that was to become Air Spray in 1954, focusing on crop dusting before moving into aerial fire fighting in the early 1960s. If you are interested in this early period in Air Spray's history and find yourself in Edmonton, Alberta with some time on your hands, the Provincial Archives of Alberta Canada has what is known as a fond (documents) from Mary Harrington, David's wife. According to Larkin, the company Harrington founded became Air Spray Ltd. in 1967. Harrington acquired a Douglas B-26 in 1969 (recall that the B-26 was later redesignated the A-26). That is when Don Hamilton, who later became CEO of Air Spray entered the picture. Hamilton acquired a 50 percent interest in this B-26 that was converted to firefighting configuration in 1970. Sometime later, Hamilton acquired the remaining interest in Air Spray becoming the sole owner of Air Spray.

I had heard about the 2000 hanger fire at Air Spray's maintenance hangar In Red Deer as I was doing research for these articles. On October 16, 2000 a fire started in one of Air Spray's maintenance hangers in Red Deer when sparks from an electrical cord that was being unplugged ignited some fuel. The hanger went up in flames and six aircraft were destroyed, including four A-26 Invaders (For more information see a short description of this fire from the Aviation Safety Network.

In my next couple of articles I'll focus on three tankers, one from Conair (Tanker 28), and two from Air Spray (Tankers 31 and 36).

Updated on February 11, 2014: As sometimes happens when I write series like this people contact me with additional information which I do my best to incorporate into the series that I am working on. I'd like to thank one of my tanker pilot friends from Canada who sent me some more information about Air Spray last night, some of which I incorporated into this article, and another piece he sent me will be incorporated into an article later in this series. As sometimes happens when I write series like this people contact me with additional information which I do my best to incorporate into the series that I am working on.

A-26 Tankers in Canada: Operators -- Conair (part 3 of 13)

Conair, based in Abbotsford, British Columbia flew A-26 tankers for 16 years from 1970 to 1985 (History of Aviation in the  BC Forest Service Part 2: Air Tanker Operations, 2011, pp. 12, 18).

Around the time that the British Columbia Forest Service (BCFS)  celebrated their 100th anniversary, Gord Bell wrote a wonderful three part paper on the History of Aviation in the  BC Forest Service: A pictorial account for the BCFS Centennial. According the author's information (in the appendix of all three parts), Bell worked for the BCFS for 35 years and spent 25 years working with aviation programs for the BCFS. Part 2 is devoted to airtanker operations and provides some history of Conair, some great pictures and a discussion of Conair's A-26 tanker operations. 

When I first read Linc Alexander's Firebombers into Hell in the fall of 2010 I had been writing about aerial wildland firefighting for about 20 months. Before reading Linc's book, I knew little about the Canadian companies that flew tankers. That changed when I read Linc's book, and Linc's book provided me with my first introduction to Conair. Linc's first season for Conair was in 1974, flying the A-26 tanker. He was to continue flying A-26 tankers for Conair for a total of four years (Alexander, 2010, 248-55). 

I read more about Conair when I read Allan MacNutt's book, Altimeter Rising. Allan was chief pilot at Conair for two years from 1975 through 1977 (Mac Nutt, 2000, 202-5, 245). By the time I read Allan's book I was somewhat more familiar with Conair having done more reading about Conair after they first loaned the US Forest Service some of their tankers after the US Forest Service terminated its contract with Aero Union (go here for more information).

I want to share some information about a Douglas A-26 Invader that saw service with Conair: tankers 22. Tanker 22 is preserved in her Conair colors by the BCAM. I have grown to love the A-26 and I think it is great that tanker 22 is preserved in her Conair colors in homage to all the good work that she and her kin did first in military service and later in service as a tanker. One of these days perhaps I'll get to British Columbia and I'll go to the BCAM and see her up close and personal in all her splendor. 

Finally, some of you may recall that I referenced the napoleon130 A-26 Invader tanker website in my acknowledgements when I first wrote about A-26 Tanker last summer.  The napoleon130 A-26 Invader tanker website has a page devoted to Conair, including but not limited to information on tankers 22 and 28.

I'd like to thank a few pilots who used to fly A-26 tankers for Conair for taking the time to correspond with me about your experience with this incredible airplane. Your help was invaluable.

Note: More information on Linc Alexander's Firebombers into Hell and Allan MacNutt's Altimeter Rising may be found in this acknowledgements post from an earlier series on the A-26.

A-26 Tankers in Canada: Operators -- Kenting (part 2 of 13)

I learned about three companies in Canada that flew A-26 tankers from the 1970s through the 2000s: Kenting, Conair, and Airs Spray (see List of Douglas A-26 Invader operators). Before I begin, let me say that there may well be other companies or individual operators that flew A-26 tankers in Canada during this time period that I am unaware of. 

I first came across Kenting Aviation when I read Firebombers into Hell by Linc Alexander (214-17, 227-33, 235-245). He spent a couple of years working for Kenting Aviation, based in Ontario, acquiring two A-26 Tankers in the early 1970s. He wrote about one fire season where he was based first in Fort McMurray Alberta and then in High Level Alberta. High Level, according to Linc is the northern most tanker base in Alberta. Much of the time he was in High Level it rained (Alexander, 2010, 235-45). Kenting sold both of their A-26 tankers to Conair at the end of the 1973 fire season (see the article I wrote on August 7 for more information).

A-26 Tankers in Canada: Introduction (part 1 of 13)

Several months ago I wrote a series about the Douglas A-26 Invader (several posts begin here and a little later I wrote some more beginning here. At long last, I am starting a series about the A-26 service as an airtanker in Canada. I am still working on the last couple of posts in this series, but as you can see from the tentative outline below, I have some time to work out this out. I will be writing about three Canadian operators of A-26 tankers and their tankers. 

Feb 5, 2014 A-26 Tankers in Canada: Operators -- Kenting (part 2 of 13)

Feb 7, 2014 A-26 Tankers in Canada: Operators -- Conair (part 3 of 13)

Feb 10, 2014 A-26 Tankers in Canada: Operators -- Air Spray (part 4 of 13)

Feb 12, 2014 A-26 Tankers in Canada: Conair A-26 Tanker 28 (part 5 of 13)

Feb 14, 2014 A-26 Tankers in Canada: Air Spray A-26 Tankers 31 and 36 (part 6 of 13)

Feb 17, 2014 A-26 Tankers in Canada: on the ramp (part 7 of 13)

Feb 19, 2014 A-26 Tankers in Canada: take-off (part 8 of 13 )

Feb 21, 2014 A-26 Tankers in Canada: enroute (part 9 of 13)
Feb 24, 2014 A-26 Tankers in Canada: flying the A-26 (training video (part 10 of 13)
Feb 26, 2014 A-26 Tankers in Canada: flying fires in an A-26 (part 11 of 13)
Feb 28, 2014 A-26 Tankers in Canada: Air Spray's A-26 fleet in 1994 (part 12 of 13)
March 14, 3024 A-26 Tankers in Canada: Reflections (part 13 of 13)

snow removal in Japan's snow canyon

I am getting ready to start a series of articles on the A-26 Tanker tomorrow. I took a snow day. Literally. Clearing out almost eight inches of heavy, wet snow from my driveway. More to come. Anyway, I came across this video recently of some really heavy duty snow removal in Japan's snow canyon. Enjoy!



direct link to video