2019 wildfire season: Wildfires in Alberta Canada (May 31st)

Like some of you, I have been aware of the Chuckegg Creek Fire in northern Alberta, Canada. Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today. On May 28, Bill wrote an article, sharing a satellite image of three large wildfires in Alberta. In his May 30th article, he wrote about the recent extreme fire behaviour of the Chuckegg Creek Fire growing to approximately 568,000 acres (230,000 hectacres)with excerpts from a May 30th update by Alberta Wildfire. Finally in today's (May 31st) article he shared a wildfire smoke map from NOAA, Office of Satellite and Product Operations.

Evacuation orders are in place in several northern Alberta communities affected by wildfires, see this article from CBC and this article from Gizmodo for more information. Thanks to Mike Archer from Wildfire News of the Day for sharing these two articles recently. On a side note, I also saw these two articles in my Apple News feed today on my smart phone.

I found a third article about wildfires currently burning in northern Alberta in my Apple News Feed. This one is from Global News (May 31st). This article reports on the effects of the wildfire smoke in Canada and portions of the northern United States, evacuation orders. According to this article, there are 29 wildfires burning in northern Alberta with at least 5,000 people under evacuation orders. I am sharing two videos here that are also included in the article.

2019 wildfire season: A sampling of wildfire activity in U.S. lower 48: May 29

We in the east and central portions of the United States are seeing an active weather pattern with severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, even in New Jersey. I hope that all are safe and heeding any warnings from your National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office whether they be fire related or for flash flooding, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. Stay safe and be weather aware!

I am making this post and hoping to be offline before a severe thunderstorm to my west passes through my area within the next 45 minutes. We are under a tornado watch through 8 PM tonight. This is the second day in a row where we have been under a tornado watch, this is unusual for us in New Jersey and adjoining areas. So, I have to be quick to finish this up before the thunderstorm hits, I will update this post later today after the storm passes.

I was wondering about wildfire activity in the lower 48 of the United States. I'll get to that in a moment. I do know that of May 23rd that IMETs, aka Incident Meteorologists have yet to be deployed to wildfires in 2019 (see the May 23rd comment from the NWS IMET office on their May 6th Facebook Post. When I last checked the NWS IMET office Facebook page before writing this post, there were no posts about IMET deployments, however there may well be IMET deployments that I do not know about.

I read nothing into the face that there have been no IMET deployments as of May 23rd. All this could change very quickly and I suspect that in a month the situation will have changed. With that in mind, I was wondering about wildfire activity in the lower 48 states of the U.S. So, I went to Inciweb. What I share here, about four wildfires, is only a sampling of wildfire activity in the lower 48. There are likely wildfires that I do not know about.

Memorial Fire, Francis Mario National Forest, South Carolina: 1,300 acres, 85 percent containment, no structures threatened. Date of origin, May 26th.

Castolon fire, Big Bend National Park, Texas: fire started in Mexico on May 21st and jumped the Rio Grande River into Texas at Big Bend National Park on May 2nd quickly burning 944 acres, no fire growth since May 24th. Extensive damage of some park structures near Castolon (historic barracks, visitor's center and restrooms, store). Fire is 85 percent contained.

Mill Fire near Crown King, Arizona: 179 acres at 75 percent containment. last update on Inciweb was on May 8th, no growth anticipated.

Maroon fire near Flagstaff, Arizona: 100 acres, caused by lightning, date of origin was May 16th, last update on May 27th, no containment information.

IMETs save lives.

Stay safe everyone.

Memorial Day 2019

On this day when we celebrate Memorial Day here in the United States, I pause to remember all in the military in the United States and around the world who died in service to their country. I thank you for your service and remember your family and loved ones whom were left behind.


Direct link to video on Youtube


Direct link to video on Youtube

Camp Fires and Grilling Safety

In the United States the Memorial Day weekend is the traditional start of the summer season. And in some parts of the country, such as New Jersey, this is the start of the camping and outdoor picnic season. Many, but not all picnic areas have grills where you can bring your charcoal briquettes and grill your food. Many of you have outdoor gas grills or older grills using charcoal briquettes. It is important to use these grills safely and if you are using charcoal briquettes to dispose of them only after they are cool in a locked metal garbage can. FEMA has a nice, short set of graphics about grilling safety that may be found here.

Let's not forgot campfire safety. Some folk camp year round at campsites. Some campgrounds will allow campfires and some will not. If you are camping in a federal, state or local park or forest, it is important to check with the office when you check-in to see if campfires are allowed. Also, pay attention to any campfire restrictions from you state agency. I found some good information from SmokeyBear on campfire safety, there is also a campfire safety guide that you can print out and take with you (two pages), good to have handy as sometimes cellular service is unreliable in rural areas.

Have fun and be safe if you are grilling outside or using a campfire.

Updated on December 20, 2020: the video that I shared when I first posted this article is no longer available.

Reflections on wildland firefighting sacrificing family time from a non-firefighter

I took a day off from my usual posting schedule yesterday to enjoy some family time. I found myself reflecting on the fact that normally when I am planning family time, as I did yesterday, I often have something prepared ahead of time to post. Obviously, that did not happen yesterday. I thought about our wonderful wildland firefighters in the air and on the ground. They often work through holidays, and their own family's special days so that we may be safe. That means they sometimes miss out on holiday time, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and the like.

I enjoyed my family day yesterday. While there was no particular wildfire danger that I knew of in my neck of the woods yesterday, I know that wildland firefighters of the NJ Forest Fire Service were ready to respond if the call came. And the NJFFS wildland firefighters and those in your State, Province, or Country will be ready to respond to a wildland fire to keep you safe, even if it means forgoing some family time.

We have a holiday coming up here in the United States as we celebrate Memorial Day this Monday, May 27th. I hope that all who are traveling this weekend safe travels.

2019 wildfire season: Sikorsky S064 Skycrane in Greece

Here is some interesting footage, about nine minutes, of a Sikorsky S064 Skycrane working a fire in Greece. The audio is interesting. From what I can tell at least one of the voices is the pilot.


Direct link to video

Statistics and Resources from the National Interagency Fire Center

For no particular reason other than I can be a little geeky about statistics, I have been curious about how the wildland fire season (year-to-date) compares with previous years. I found some summary statistics on that National Interagency Fire Center's webpage (NIFC) that you may find here. The page that I viewed was updated on May 17, 2019 which happens to be the day I am writing this. I should caution you that these are summary statistics. Hidden in these statistics, especially acreage are going to be very large fires. That is, 2009, 2011, 2016 through 2018 had year-to-date acreage over 1,000,000 acres, This year coming in at 226,078 acres is not the lowest, that goes to 2013. The table below of year-to-date statistics was obtained on May 17, 2019 from https://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/nfn.htm. I think that there may be a typographical error, I believe that year-to-date refers to the current year, e.g. the current year's statistics would be from January 1, 2019 through May 17, 2019.

Year-to-date statistics (see note 1)
2019 (1/1/19 - 5/17/19)	Fires: 12,567	Acres: 226,078
2018 (1/1/18 - 5/17/18)	Fires: 21,997	Acres: 1,600,169
2017 (1/1/17 - 5/17/17)	Fires: 22,518	Acres: 2,108,768
2016 (1/1/16 - 5/17/16)	Fires: 18,188	Acres: 1,542,953
2015 (1/1/15 - 5/17/15)	Fires: 19,741	Acres: 375,155
2014 (1/1/14 - 5/17/14)	Fires: 22,527	Acres: 462,319
2013 (1/1/13 - 5/17/13)	Fires: 15,971	Acres: 211,225
2012 (1/1/12 - 5/17/12)	Fires: 20,,099	Acres: 473,859
2011 (1/1/11 - 5/17/11)	Fires: 25,804	Acres: 2,664,606
2010 (1/1/10 - 5/17/10)	Fires: 23,899	Acres: 348,404
2009 (1/1/09 - 5/17/09)	Fires: 32,251	Acres: 1,297,145
10-year average Year-to-Date
2009-2018	Fires: 22,752	Acres: 1,089,366

The National Interagency Coordination Center, an arm of NIFC, has current and archived data on wildfires by Coordination Center may be found on this webpage under Situation, National Products, Incident Management Situation Report.

One of the reasons why I am sharing these data to share this resources from NIFC for those of you who are not familiar with NIFC's resources. NIFC has a nice fire statistic page, mostly summary statistics. I am quite aware that there are likely to be other sources of historical wildfire statistics that I am not aware of either on the national level as well as regional and local. NIFC has a variety of other resources as well: aviation, fire shelters and safety to name a few. I will leave you to your devices to explore.

There is a video that I saw on the NIFC home page on the wildfire outlook for May and June of 2019 with seasonal outlooks for July and August. I am interested in hearing what Brian Henry, Assistant National Weather Fire Weather Program Manager for Predictive Services in Boise, Idaho has to say.


Direct link to video from NIFC

______________________

Note 1: The data table showing year-to-date statistics as of May 17th was corrected to correct what I believe to be a typographical error. The original data on the website states that the year to date statistics goes back to January 1 of the preceding year (e.g. 2019 (1/1/18-5/17/19); 2018 (1/1/17-5/17/18, etc). I took the liberty of changing the year to date column to reflect the current year. Any errors in this presentation are my responsibility.

Tanker history: Martin Mars dropping on the 2009 Station Fire

In the late summer of 2009, the Station Fire burned 160,577 acres, two firefighters died and 89 residences were destroyed. I have some articles tagged Station Fire here, and Wikipedia has a summary of the Station Fire here. The fire burned some television antennas and equipment on the top of Mt. Wilson. I spent quite a few hours watching live stream from Los Angeles media of the air operations over Mt. Wilson. I spent one night being afraid that the Mt. Wilson observatory might be destroyed or severely damaged, that did not happen. One of the now historic air tankers that dropped on Mt. Wilson was the Martin Mars. The Martin Mars is, in all likely hood retired from firefighting operations. I spent several minutes watching the live stream of her drop on Mt. Wilson, elegance in action. A very special tanker.

The video below may or may not be the same live stream that I saw almost ten years ago, but that does not matter. Enjoy this video, a little over six minutes of the Martin Mars preparing to drop and then dropping on Mt. Wilson during the Station Fire in late August 2009.


Direct link to video

2018 fire season: E-631 2018 Crew Video

Enjoy this crew video of the 2018 fire season of E-631. Great footage in this video. Allow five minutes for the video. I believe this crew is out of New Mexico. Enjoy. Thanks to the crew of E-631 for keeping us safe during 2018 and best wishes for a save 2019 fire season.


Direct link to video by Alec D

Time for some helos, May 2019 edition

Every so often I like to share videos of helicopters used to fight wildfires. I have always liked watching helicopters, whether it be through a video or the times I have seen and heard one flying over head. Once in awhile I have seen one from the right seat of a Cessna 172 while on a scenic ride. I saw a CH-47 once about four years ago that was about 1 to 2 miles away crossing in front of us. That was pretty cool, but in the pbotograph I took it was smaller than the size of my fist. Oh well.

About five years ago, my good friend Matt died too young. Matt loved helicopters and was quite knowledgeable. We had fun talking helos. He had model helos that he used with his young sons.

Matt, I share this videos today in your memory. I know that you are flying in favorable tail winds.

Enjoy!

Bambi Buckets

Direct link to video

Bell 212

Direct link to video

NJ Forest Fire Service Takeoff, Augusta NJ Airshow

Direct link to video

IMETs using GOES East and West

We now have two operating satellites in the GOES-R generation of satellites, two more in the series have yet to be launched. If I am not mistaken, GOES East (originally GOES-R now GOES-16) has good coverage from the east coast to the Rockies.  We now have an additional satellite in the GOES-R series, GOES-17 (launched as GOES-S) that became GOES West in early March of 2019. Any reference to GOES East in this article refers to GOES-16 and any reference to GOES West refers to GOES-17.

I understand that all NWS Incident Meteorologists (IMETs) are at least Journeymen Forecasters (General Forecasters). So they would have had training as required on the GOES-R series of satellites (GOES-16 and GOES-17) in connection with their work as Forecasters in NWS Weather Forecast Offices. I have written several articles about IMETs which may be found here (latest at top).

I have been curious about how Incident Meteorologists have been using the new GOES East and West Satellites (go here to read about what IMETs do and to watch a short video). I would like to thank Robyn Heffernan, National Fire Weather Science and Dissemination Meteorologist with the NWS National Fire Weather Program for taking the time to answer some questions.

RRamblings: Did existing IMETs receive any additional training through either recurrent training or special training, on using the GOES-R series of satellites in their work as IMETs. If so, can you briefly explain what is covered in this training?

RH: Yes!  Not only did IMETs (new and veteran) receive special training for the new GOES series of satellites, so did every forecaster in the National Weather Service (NWS).  The NWS Satellite Foundation course consisted of 15-20 hours of training to bring forecasters up to date on the capabilities of the GOES-R/S satellites.  Specifically, topics included an introduction to GOES-R/S highlighting improved spatial and temporal resolution and additional new channels available, followed by products and imagery that address a broad range of applications including fire weather.  The NWS is currently planning on the development of a new course specifically dedicated to the applications of the new satellites for fire weather.

RRamblings: Has GOES East (aka GOES-16) made a difference in the work of an IMET? If so, how? And how might this be different from how they use GOES East (or GOES West) in their work for their WFO?

RH: The new GOES East and West satellites (R/S) are making a significant difference for IMETs in the field as well as forecasters back at the Weather Forecast Office (WFO).  The new GOES East and West satellites provide three times more spectral information, four times the spatial resolution, and more than five times faster temporal resolution than the previous system.  This means, for wildland fire, we can routinely see fires down to 15 acres in size (although we have been able to see structure fires as well) and watch these fires grow through 1 minute imagery.  This is a game changer!  IMETs on large incidents can see which portions of a fire are particularly active on a given day.  Forecasters back at the WFO are able to see new fire starts and fire growth, and work with land management agency partners to provide necessary forecast weather information.

RRamblings: Is there one thing that you would like my readers to know about GOES East and West as specifically applies to the work of an IMET.

RH: These data are so new to us that we have only begun to discover the utility of the data from these new satellites.  In addition to new developments in the GOES series of satellites, new advances in polar satellites are occurring as well.  In 2017, a new polar satellite was launched, NOAA-20, which includes the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiomenter Suite (VIIRS).  VIIRS is extremely useful in wildland fire due to the ability to detect and view wildland fires at an incredibly high spatial resolution.  In time, we hope these new data will open up a new world with how the NWS works with land management agency partners to assess and forecast the fire environment.  

Thank-you Robyn for your time! I wish all in the NWS National Fire Weather Program Office and the IMETs the best as the spring and summer wildfire. Thank-you for helping keeping our firefighters as safe as possible as the fight wildfires.

Incident Meteorologists are ready to go wildfires to save lives

As I write this, it is May 6th, and to date Incident Meteorologists (IMET) have not yet been deployed to any fires. This slow start does not mean anything. The wildfire season could get very busy with a lot of IMET deployments. For example, according to a post from the NWS IMET Office on their Facebook Page: "As of 4.29, we haven't had anyone out on a mission yet, The only other time in the last 21 years that has happened was in 2015 (1st mission on 5/5) Despite the late start, we wound up with 153 missions. It wast the ninth busiest season on record ). Late Starts do not = Slow Seasons (obtained on May 6, 2019 from US National Weather Service IMET Facebook Page, April 29, 2019 post)


It is May 6th and to the best of my knowledge there has not yet been an IMET deployment to a wildfire. It does not really matter whether or not this will be a slow season, time will tell. The point is that when they get the call, IMETs are ready at a moments notice to go and provide onsite weather forecasting to help the wildland firefighters on the ground and in the air be safe as they work the fire. IMETs do save lives. Should the need arise, I know that IMETs will provide services to a wildfire in my neck of the woods. I am comforted by that knowledge. I hope that doesn't happen, but in this day and age, who knows what will happen.

Here are a couple of short videos where you can learn about what IMETs do. In the first video, listen to IMET Jeff Colton describe his work as an IMET on the 2018 Wapit Fire.

IMETs save lives!


Direct link to video

IMET's will often, but not always, deploy weather balloons to gather important meteorological data from the atmosphere, see the video below.


Direct link to video

New Jersey Forest Fire Service: Historical Footage from Last 20 years

New Jersey continues to green up nicely, at least in my part of the state with forecasts of rain or showers for this weekend. Even so, it is always prudent never to let your guard down. Wildfires can and do happen, sometimes when you least expect it.

So far, today is quiet and I am taking the rest of the day off for some rest and recreation with a friend. I leave you with this video retrospective from my friends at the NJ Forest Fire Service Section B10. This is a best of video of wildland fires in NJ Forest Fire Service Section B10 and around New Jersey. A variety of photos: helicopters, SEATs, engines and dozers, shots of wildfires, wildland firefighters working fires, prescribed fires, etc.


Direct link to video from NJFFS Section B10

B747-400 Supertanker (May 2019)

I have known about the Global Supertanker's B747-400 Supertanker, capable of carrying about 18,600 gallons of retardant (perhaps up to 19,200 gallons). She can also carry gel, water or foam. Global Supertanker has a nice page that may be found here where you can learn more about the Supertanker can do. I have only written about the 747 Supertanker on one previous occasion in January 2017 when the 747 Supertanker was deployed to Chile to work a major wildfire. Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today and Fire Aviation was embedded with the Suipertanker crew at that time and has written extensively about the 747 Supertanker (Bill's posts tagged Global Supertanker may be found at this link). In addition to Chile the 747 Supertanker flew has flown wildfires in California and Oregon. She may have had contracts to fly fires in other places that I do not know about.

At the time that I am writing this article, Global Supertanker has only one 747 Supertanker.

I was inspired to write this article thanks to an article with videos and a photo gallery from KATU that Mike Archer shared in a recent Wildfire News of the Day Newsletter.

The actual KATU (Oregon) article about the 747 Supertanker is a short piece that you can read quickly. However, the meat of this piece is in two videos about the 747 Supertanker that I am sharing below and a great photo gallery featuring the 747 Supertanker by KATU Photojournalist Rick Peavyhouse. There is no embed code, so you will have to the KATU article to watch the two videos, they are worth watching so I hope you take this opportunity to watch the two videos (allow five minutes).

Here is a July 2018 video from KPIX in the San Francisco Bay Area of California featuring the 747 SuperTanker.


Direct link to video from KPIX

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

More on NJ Forest Fire Service Prescribed Burning & Wildfire Prevention Techniques

Following up on my March 29th article on the New Jersey Forest Fire Service's (NJFFS) 2019 Prescribed Burning Season (84th year), through the end of March the NJ Forest Fire Service completed prescribed burns on 22,616 acres. In my March 29th article, I linked to Bill Gabbert's March 25th article on Wildfire Today with Michael Achey and Marie Cook's article on the NJFFS prescribed burning program. Achey an Cook discuss the New Jersey Prescribed Burning Act:

NJFFS has been using prescribed fire on state lands since 1936, primarily to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations. Other beneficial effects of these treatments include providing high quality wildlife habitat and resilience in forest health. While reducing the threat to public safety posed by hazardous fuels is always the primary mission, this year’s signing of the New Jersey Prescribed Burning Act has given fire management officers additional latitude for using prescribed fire as a tool to achieve several other ecological objectives. While prescribed burning takes place statewide across all ownerships, much of the activity is concentrated on state lands in fire-adapted Pine Barrens communities.

In a recent NJFFS New Release (go here to read this news release from the NJ DEP,  News Release 19/P029)) State Firewarden Greg McLaughlin discusses prescribed burns to manage habitats and other ecological needs that are now possible because of the New Jersey Prescribed Burning Act. These burns to manage habitats will be conducted after the spring wildfire season ends:

After the threat of wildfire decreases, the Forest Fire Service may implement up to 17 additional “growing season” prescribed burn projects across 1,325 acres. 

“Prescribed burning during the growing season is a unique and innovative new management practice that has never before been implemented here,” State Firewarden Greg McLaughlin said. ”This is the result of the recently signed legislation known as the Prescribed Burn Act, which has authorized the Forest Fire Service to use prescribed fire for habitat management as well as to reduce fuels.” 

Examples of habitat management projects include creating and enhancing wildlife habitats, targeting treatment of nonnative invasive species and restoring native forest habitats.

This year marks the second year that representatives from other states participated in a Prescribed Fire Learning Exchange, according to NJ DEP News Release 19/P029:

This year marked the second time the Forest Fire Service hosted a Prescribed Fire Learning Exchange for others and participated in wildland fire research projects with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service. 

Visitors to the learning exchange included five forest health representatives from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, a fire ecologist from the New York Central Pine Barrens Commission, two firefighters from the Fire Department of New York, five fire and aviation management personnel from the Montana Department of Natural Resources, four students from Utah State University and eight students from Northern Arizona University. Florida is the only other state on the East Coast to offer similar training. 

In addition to the success of the learning exchange and work on various public and private lands, the Forest Fire Service also assisted in implementing numerous wildland fire research projects.

Achey and Cook also write about the Prescribed Fire Learning Exchange, see Bill Gabbert's March 25th article.

I am very proud of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service as the are gaining some national attention for their prescribed burning program. I am looking forward to the prescribed burns to for habitat management. The NJFFS wildland fire crews work hard fighting wildland fires as well as doing prescribed burns. Thank-you for all you do keep us in New Jersey safe.

Last but by no means least, please enjoy these two short videos about the NJFFS Prescribed Burning Program that were referenced in the NJ DEP News Release 19/P029

Singer-Songwriter Rain Perry on Surviving the Thomas Fire

Singer-songwriter Rain Perry lost her music studio and contents in the 2017 Thomas Fire that burned over 280,000 acres in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. Rain lives in Ojai and was fortunate that her home was not destroyed. Many of her neighbors lost their homes to the Thomas Fire. Rain has recently released a video of a song that she wrote, Vapor, filmed at the ruins of the historic Amestoy House in Upper Ojai. One of Rain's representative's contacted me because I write a blog focusing on wildland firefighting asking me if I would share the video with you. I listened to her video featuring at least 12 friends and neighbors who lost their homes and or studios. Each of the dozen people you will see in the video have an object from their burned homes. I found the video to be very moving and thought that some of you would like to see her video. Vapor is but one of the songs on her new album, Let's be Brave. The proceeds of the April 27th celebration of the release of Let's Be Brave held in Ojai CA will benefit the California Community Foundation Wildfire Release Fund.  Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today wrote about Rain Perry and her Let's Be Brave album on April 23rd.


Direct link to Vapor by Rain Perry

From 2017: footage of NJFFS helicopter working a wildfire

I came across the video last week thanks to my friends at the NJ Forest Fire Service Section B10 webpage who posted it last week on their video of the week page (videos changed weekly). It is possible that this video is one that I have shared before, if so it is worth a second viewing.

You will see about five minutes of footage of a New Jersey Forest Fire Service helicopter and bucket working an April 2017 wildfire in Ramapo Reservation in northern Bergen County, NJ.



direct link to video from Mahwah Fire Rescue

2019 fire season: large tankers on contract with US Forest Service

I knew that it was getting to that time of year when we would start seeing large air tankers on contract with the US Forest Service. So, I went to Bill Gabbert's Fire Aviation site to find out if he had posted about the 2019 large air tankers. My efforts were rewarded when I found hist April 15th article, updated on April 17th on 13 large air tankers under contract for 2019.

I know that many of you follow Bill's blogs, and you will already know about the13 large air tankers on exclusive use contracts with the US Forest Service in 2019; according to Bill it is likely that another five air tankers will be going on contract soon. As I do write about aerial wildland fire fighting, I think it is important for me to post about these exclusive use contracts for large air tankers.

Bill writes the following in his April 15th article on these 13 large air tankers:

Currently six of them have been activated according to the estimated starting dates of the Mandatory Availability Periods (MAP). On April 17 a seventh will begin. The rest will come on between May 1 and May 29. 

The 13 air tankers confirmed so far on exclusive use contracts for 2019 are:
• 10 Tanker Air Carrier: 910 and 912 (DC-10)
• Coulson: 131 (C-130Q)
• Aero Air: 101 and 107, (MD-87)
• Aero Flite: 160, 161, 163, and 167 (RJ85)
• Neptune: 01, 15, 16, and 40

You will want to read Bill's April 15th in its entirety to read about related issues.

If five additional large air tankers go on exclusive use contracts sometime soon, whatever that means, the 18 large tankers on exclusive use (EU) contract are not enough. The advantage of exclusive use contracts over call when needed (CWN) contracts is that air craft under exclusive use contracts are paid to be available during a contract specified mandatory availability period while call when needed aircraft are only paid when they are called up to be ready to fly and at a higher cost as compared with exclusive use aircraft.

In June of 2018, I wrote about my concerns over the decrease in air tankers and helicopters on contract to fly fires. I don't know the status of CWN contracts for 2019. My concerns remain the same this year. On June 8, 2018, I wrote in part:

Following up on Bill Gabbert’s comments on the higher costs and other concerns about the CWN contracts along with the reduction in available EU contracted aircraft, it is just a matter of time during this 2018 wildfire season when all EU contracted aircraft will be assigned to fires, so the call will go out for additional aircraft to work wildfires. So, the USFS asks those contractors on CWN contracts if they have available aircraft. As Bill points out in his February 21st [2018] article, the cost of aircraft under a CWN contract is higher than under an EU contract. It stands to reason that the contractors may try obtain other contracts for their CWN aircraft. Or perhaps, sadly, they haven’t other contracts, deciding that it costs too much to keep a CWN aircraft and crew ready to fly fires so the aircraft sits without a contract. What happens then? 

Not only does the CWN contractor have to have available aircraft, they also have to have available crew and maintenance personal. What happens if that crew can not afford to sit around with no pay waiting for the call to fly? Perhaps they get other flying jobs in the meantime. What happens then?

It is important to note that at this time, I do not know about the status of any CWN contracts that the US Forest Service might issue. If the number of available aircraft and crew on CWN contracts this year is lower than in 2018 then the scenario that I wrote about last year might be worse.  With a reduced number or no aircraft on CWN contracts in 2019, what happens once all available EU aircraft are assigned to a fire? Could a call go out for a large air tanker or a helicopter to work a fire with a response that none are available? What happens then?

Tribute in honor of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

direct link to video

Like many of you, I have been following the fire that burned in the Notre Dame Cathedral in France on Monday night (April 15th). Some 400 Parisian firefighters fought the blaze, one was badly injured. I want to take the opportunity to thank all of the Parisian Firefighters who worked the fire over night, at great risk to themselves to save Notre Dame and the artifacts inside. I am glad that Notre Dame is still standing, albeit wounded. I want to take this day to pause and stand in remembrance and solidarity with the people of France to honor Notre Dame. Notre Dame is special.


direct link to video

2018 wildfire season: Geronimo Hotshots 2018 crew video

On a rather windy day in spring fire season here in New Jersey and environs following some thunderstorms over night, we are still seeing moderate fire danger in the northern and southern portions of New Jersey with central New Jersey seeing low fire danger. All this could change quickly. Perhaps it would be too windy for the SEATs and helicopters to fly? Anyway, I always hope for the best during our spring fire season and the rest of year. Thank-you NJ Forest Fire Service crews who work to to keep us in New Jersey safe.

Please enjoy the 2018 crew video from the Geronimo Hotshots. The Geronimo Hotshots are from the San Carlo Apache Tribe. Please take a moment to pause and remember the wildland firefighters, and their families, who have given their lives in the line of duty to keep us safe.


Direct link to Youtube video uploaded by the Geronimo Hotshots. 

Aircraft on contract in New Jersey for 2019 spring wildfire season

I have no official information, but it is my understanding that aircraft are on contract in New Jersey for the spring wildfire season for the next 3 to 4 weeks. Friends tell me that the following aircraft are currently on contract:

Division A (northern NJ): Delta 7 (Huey Helicopter) at Aeroflex Andover Airbase (Sussex County)
Division B (central NJ): Tanker 81 (AT-802) at Miller Air (Ocean County)
Division C: Tanker 61 (AT-602) at Downstown Air (Cumberland County)

Thanks to Mike Archer from Wildfire News of the Day for sharing an article from 94.3 the Point about the AT-802 currently on contract in central New Jersey.

Meet some California Smokejumpers

I wanting to post something a little different today, and came upon this nine minute plus video called Smokejumpers: Fire in the Blood an April 2016 report by ABC News. I enjoyed this behind the scene look at what smokejumpers. This may be a rerun, so to speak, if so it is worth showing again. Enjoy.


Direct link to Youtube Video by ABC News

Photos of Spring Hill Fire burn scar

I have good pilot friends who understand me and my love of aviation. They know that I will never be a licensed pilot and take me on "sight seeing" flights as schedules allow. Meaning when the weekend weather cooperates. This past weekend, we had two good days, so I was able to go flying on Sunday afternoon, April 7th.

It was a great day for flying, and there were a lot of folk who were also in the air. We flew the Pine Barrens, and flew over a portion of the burn scar from the Spring Hill Fire. Recall this article by Stephen Stirling of New Jersey Advanced Media showing some before and after satellite imagery of the Spring Hill Fire burn scar. He reported on what Larry Hajna of the NJ DEP said about the veins of green trees that you see in the three of the four photos:

“The long, thin ribbons of trees result from a phenomenon called horizontal roll vortices,” said Hajna. “Basically, these tornadic winds move upward and it kind of does a wave and creates an air pocket that is cooler than the surrounding environment. And it leaves a strip of unburned trees and leaves a path that indicates the direction.”

These thin ribbons of trees are especially pronounced in this first photo. please excuse the poor quality of the photograph. Taking pictures out of the window of an airplane is sometimes challenging and I had to retouch the photograph.

Spring Hill Fire burn scar, photographed on April 7, 2019

The next two photos are taken when we are near Coyle Field. Coyle Field is owned by the NJ Forest Fire Service. Route 72 where NJ Forest Fire Service ground crews did burn out operations runs adjacent to Coyle Field (barely visible in the second photo).

Spring Hill Fire burn scar, Coyle Field (NJFFS) photographed on April 7, 2019

Spring Hill Fire burn scar, Coyle Field (NJFFS) photographed on April 7, 2019

This last photograph is taken somewhere over the Spring Hill Burn scar. Again the photo quality is not the greatest. But it does show the burned area.

Spring Hill Fire burn scar, photographed on April 7, 2019

NJ Pine Barrens can recover from a wildfire

I have found it sad to see a large area of my beloved NJ Pine Barrens burned, see for example this awesome NJ Advance Media article By Stephen Stirling with interactive satellite imagery before and after the Spring Hill Fire burned 11,600 acres last weekend; I need to warn you that you will have at least temporarily disable your ad blocker in order to see the article. However I can personally attest to seeing the Pine Barrens come back fairly quickly after a wildfire, this is the point of this article.

You may be interested in this short video report from NJ Network taken in 2008, a year after the 2007 Warren Grove Fire burned over 17,000 acres in the NJ Pine Barrens. You will see how the area burned had begun to regrow a year after the fire went through.


Direct link to video report from NJ Network

There is a good article from the NY Times published on September 25, 2018 (with photos) discussing how an area burned by a 860 acre in the NJ Pine Barrens in May 2018 had begun to regenerate by September. For those of you who are interested in the fire adapted ecosystem of the NJ Pine Barrens I found some information two evergreen trees that are commonly found in the NJ Pine Barrens and how they have adapted and even depend on fire to reproduce, the pitch pine and the shortleaf pine, and the Pinelands Alliance has a good fire ecology page (be warned that one of the videos  and the slide show requires the flash video plug-in which some of you may not want to use for security concerns).

I live a couple of hours away from the NJ Pine Barrens, I try to get down there at least once or twice a year. I usually drive by an area burned by the Warren Grove Fire a mile or south of the ignition point. I pull off in the pull off and take photos if I have my camera with me. The first three photos were taken in August 2008, about 15 months after the Warren Grove Fire. Note that you can see the cones on the dwarf pitch pines (aka pymgy pines) that only open after a fire. In the last picture you can still see evidence of the fire but of note is the growth that happened in the 15 months after the Warren Grove Fire.

Photo taken August 2008 at Stafford Forge (Rte 539 South), Warren Grove NJ 

Photo taken August 2008 at Stafford Forge (Rte 539 South), Warren Grove NJ 

Photo taken August 2008 at Stafford Forge (Rte 539 South), Warren Grove NJ 

In the following photo, taken at the same spot three years after the Warren Grove Fire, you can see the difference. You would hardly know that the area was burned in a wildfire three years prior.

Photo taken May 2010 at Stafford Forge (Rte 539 South), Warren Grove NJ 

Fire danger continues in New Jersey and NYC metropolitan area

The National Weather Service in Upton, New York has issued a Red Flag Warning for today, April 4th, from 10 AM to 8 PM. Note areas in pink in the image below are areas under a Red Flag Warning. The Albany area of New York, the rest of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and southern New Hamphsire are also under Red Flag Warnings today. The areas in New Jersey with the light brown color are not under Red Flag Warnings but will see enhanced fire weather conditions which I will elaborate at then end of this post following the information from NWS Upton.

Stay safe everyone. Thanks to all the firefighters who will be working to keep all of us safe from wildfires today.

Image obtained on April 4, 2019 at 11:20 AM from https://www.weather.gov/okx/

Red Flag Warning

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service New York NY
427 AM EDT Thu Apr 4 2019

...CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR FIRE SPREAD...

CTZ005>012-NJZ002-004-006-103>108-NYZ067>075-078>081-176>179-
042015-
/O.UPG.KOKX.FW.A.0002.190404T1200Z-190405T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KOKX.FW.W.0002.190404T1400Z-190405T0000Z/
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-
427 AM EDT Thu Apr 4 2019

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT
THIS EVENING FOR SOUTHEAST NEW YORK...NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY...AND
SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT...

The National Weather Service in Upton has issued a Red Flag
Warning, which is in effect from 10 AM this morning to 8 PM EDT
this evening.

* Affected Areas...All of southeast New York, northeast New
  Jersey, and southern Connecticut.

* Timing...Late this morning into early this evening.

* Winds...Northwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. Highest
  winds across southern Connecticut.

* Relative Humidity...10 to 15 percent.

* Impacts...Gusty winds and very dry air will create conditions
  that may promote the rapid spread of wildfires if ignition
  occurs.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are expected or occurring. A combination of strong winds, low
relative humidity, and dry fuels will create a significantly
elevated fire growth potential.

The National Weather Service in Mt. Holly NJ has issued a Special Weather Statement for elevated fire risk this afternoon due to low relative humidity and occasional wind gusts. In the image below, the areas shaded in light brown are under the Special Weather Statement.

Image obtained on April 4, 2019 at 11:20 AM from https://www.weather.gov/phi/

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
945 AM EDT Thu Apr 4 2019

NJZ001-007>010-012>015-020-026-042300-
Sussex-Warren-Morris-Hunterdon-Somerset-Middlesex-
Western Monmouth-Eastern Monmouth-Mercer-Ocean-Coastal Ocean-
Including the cities of Newton, Washington, Morristown,
Flemington, Somerville, New Brunswick, Freehold, Sandy Hook,
Trenton, Jackson, and Long Beach Island
945 AM EDT Thu Apr 4 2019

...AN ENHANCED RISK OF WILDFIRE SPREAD THIS AFTERNOON...

Low relative humidity levels and occasional wind gusts near 20
MPH are anticipated for this afternoon in parts of northern and
central New Jersey. The expected conditions along with dry fine
fuels may create an elevated risk for the spread of wildfires.

For more information about wildfire danger, burn restrictions,
and wildfire prevention and education, please visit the state`s
environmental protection website.

2019 NJ Fire Season: Just in 660 acre fire in Burlington County

April 4th, 11 AM

I heard from my friends at NJFFS Section B10 earlier this morning that the fire was contained last night, and that the acreage burned may be around 660 acres, down from 1,200 acres. I just went to the Asbury Park Press who has updated their article on the fire this morning stating that the Joint Base McGuire-Fort Dix-Lakehurst and the Pemberton Volunteer Fire Department issued statements that the fire is 100 percent contained at 660 acres. Roads in the area that were closed on Wednesday are now open albeit with some delays as firefighters continue to work in the area.. Firefighters will be monitoring the area burned for hotspots.

April 3rd, 10 PM

I was listening to the NJFFS Division B (central NJ) online scanner on and off all day. I knew about this online scanner through my friends at NJFFS Section B10, they post links to the scanners in all three divisions. I usually listen to Division B for the NJ Pine Barrens, but this scanner also covers some of Division A where I live. Anyway, as I was listening today, I did note some wildfire activity near the Joint Base McGuire-Fort Dix Lakehurst near Pemberton NJ. I later heard reference that one of the NJ Forest Fire Service Huey Helicopters was requested. My friends at the NJFFS Section B10 gave me a heads up about the fire size (1,200 acres), they confirmed that the Huey and bucket flew the fire early (Delta 5). NJFFS crews were requested about 2:30 PM along with the Huey. At the time I wrote this there was no information about containment.

According to an Asbury Park Press report this evening that may be found here, there were road closures in place near the wildfire but there were no evacuations. According to the Joint Base Facebook Page, the fire originated on a training range on the base. The wildland firefighters on the ground (NJFFS, Joint Base crews, and mutual aid from nearby municipalities) will work through the night.

Red Flag Warnings in this area of New Jersey, originally set to expire at 9 PM, are now due to expire at 11 PM.

ABC6 in Philadelphia just posted a video of this from shot from their Helicopter, Chopper 6. I could not get their embed code to work, but here is a direct link to the video that I hope works.

Red Flag Warning

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
854 PM EDT Wed Apr 3 2019

NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055-060>062-070-071-101>106-040300-
/O.CON.KPHI.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-190404T0300Z/
Sussex-Warren-Morris-Hunterdon-Somerset-Middlesex-
Western Monmouth-Eastern Monmouth-Mercer-Salem-Gloucester-Camden-
Northwestern Burlington-Ocean-Cumberland-Atlantic-Cape May-
Atlantic Coastal Cape May-Coastal Atlantic-Coastal Ocean-
Southeastern Burlington-Carbon-Monroe-Berks-Lehigh-Northampton-
Delaware-Philadelphia-Western Chester-Eastern Chester-
Western Montgomery-Eastern Montgomery-Upper Bucks-Lower Bucks-
854 PM EDT Wed Apr 3 2019

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

* AFFECTED AREA...Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey,

* TIMING...Until 11:00 PM this evening.

* WINDS...West 15 to 20 mph with gusts 25 to 30 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 15 to 20 percent this evening,
  increasing overnight.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds and very dry air will create conditions
  that will promote the rapid spread of wildfires.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring or are imminent due to a combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity and dry fuels. Any fires that
develop may quickly get out of control and become difficult to
contain.

For more information about wildfire danger, burn restrictions,
and wildfire prevention and education, please visit your state
forestry or environmental protection website.

Red Flag Warnings: April 3rd

Red Flag Warings are in place today into this evening over areas of the mid-atlantic including New Jersey, eastern and central Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York City and environs and southern New York, and much of Maryland.

I know that the New Jersey Forest Fire Service will be on patrol today and all NJFFS towers will be staffed. I am sure that other State Fire Fighting agencies will also be on patrol today. Stay safe everyone.

I will do my best to try to monitor the situation in New Jersey and will report back about any significant wildfire activity.

In the image below, the pink/red color are red flag warnings.

Image from National Weather Service Mt. Holly NJ at 8:15 AM on April 3, 2019

Red Flag Warning

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
316 AM EDT Wed Apr 3 2019

DEZ001>004-NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055-060>062-070-071-
101>106-032030-
/O.UPG.KPHI.FW.A.0001.190403T1400Z-190404T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KPHI.FW.W.0001.190403T1400Z-190404T0100Z/
New Castle-Kent-Inland Sussex-Delaware Beaches-Sussex-Warren-
Morris-Hunterdon-Somerset-Middlesex-Western Monmouth-
Eastern Monmouth-Mercer-Salem-Gloucester-Camden-
Northwestern Burlington-Ocean-Cumberland-Atlantic-Cape May-
Atlantic Coastal Cape May-Coastal Atlantic-Coastal Ocean-
Southeastern Burlington-Carbon-Monroe-Berks-Lehigh-Northampton-
Delaware-Philadelphia-Western Chester-Eastern Chester-
Western Montgomery-Eastern Montgomery-Upper Bucks-Lower Bucks-
316 AM EDT Wed Apr 3 2019

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 9 PM EDT
THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, MOST OF NEW JERSEY, AND DELAWARE...

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly has issued a Red Flag
Warning for the potential of enhanced fire spread, which is in
effect from 10 AM this morning to 9 PM EDT this evening. The Fire
Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* AFFECTED AREA...The Poconos, Lehigh Valley, Berks County, and
  southeastern Pennsylvania. Also northwestern, central, and
  southern New Jersey and the entire state of Delaware.

* TIMING...From 10:00 AM until 9:00 PM Wednesday.

* WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Dropping into the 20 to 30 percent range.

* TEMPERATURES...Highs mainly in the 60s, with 50s in the Poconos
  and far northwest New Jersey.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds and very dry air will create conditions
  that may promote the rapid spread of wildfires.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly due to a combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and dry fuels. Any fires
that develop may quickly get out of control and become difficult
to contain.

For more information about wildfire danger, burn restrictions,
and wildfire prevention and education, please visit your state
forestry or environmental protection website.

Red Flag Warning
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service New York NY
420 AM EDT Wed Apr 3 2019

...CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR FIRE SPREAD TODAY...

NJZ006-106-108-032015-
/O.UPG.KOKX.FW.A.0001.190403T1400Z-190404T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KOKX.FW.W.0001.190403T1600Z-190404T0600Z/
Hudson-Eastern Essex-Eastern Union-
420 AM EDT Wed Apr 3 2019

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 2 AM EDT
THURSDAY FOR URBAN NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY...

The National Weather Service in Upton has issued a Red Flag
Warning, which is in effect from noon today to 2 AM EDT Thursday.
The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* Affected Area...Hudson, Eastern Essex, and Eastern Union
  counties in northeast New Jersey.

* Timing...This afternoon and into tonight.

* Winds...West 20 to 30 mph with gusts 45 to 50 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 17 percent.

* Impacts...Gusty winds and very dry air will create conditions
  that may promote the rapid spread of wildfires.

* Impacts...Rapid fire spread possible if ignition occurs.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are expected or occurring. A combination of strong winds, low
relative humidity, and dry fuels will create a significantly
elevated fire growth potential.


Red Flag Warning
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service New York NY
420 AM EDT Wed Apr 3 2019

...CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR FIRE SPREAD TODAY...

NJZ002-004-103>105-107-032015-
/O.UPG.KOKX.FW.A.0001.190403T1400Z-190404T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KOKX.FW.W.0001.190403T1600Z-190404T0300Z/
Western Passaic-Eastern Passaic-Western Bergen-Eastern Bergen-
Western Essex-Western Union-
420 AM EDT Wed Apr 3 2019

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 11 PM EDT THIS
EVENING FOR NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY...

The National Weather Service in Upton has issued a Red Flag
Warning, which is in effect from noon today to 11 PM EDT this
evening. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* Affected Area...Bergen, Western Essex, Passaic, and Western
  Union counties in northeast New Jersey.

* Timing...This afternoon and evening.

* Winds...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts 45 to 50 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 19 percent.

* Impacts...Gusty winds and very dry air will create conditions
  that may promote the rapid spread of wildfires.

* Impacts...Rapid fire spread possible if ignition occurs.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are expected or occurring. A combination of strong winds, low
relative humidity, and dry fuels will create a significantly
elevated fire growth potential.

2019 NJ fire season: Spring Hill Fire human caused?

Updated at 9 PM on April 1st: Thanks to a friend from the NJFFS for pointing me to this press release from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection announcing that the Spring Hill Fire is fully contained. The press release does not specifically state the fire was human caused, rather it seems that they have ruled out a fire caused by power lines, prescribed burns and lightning. They are asking for the public to come forward if they have any information about the fire, all tips will be kept confidential.

4:50 PM on April 1st

There has been an investigation into the cause of the Spring Hill Fire that burned 11,600 acres on the border of Burlington and Ocean Counties this past weekend. The Asbury Park Press is reporting (April 1st, 3:18 PM):

The forest fire that ripped through more than 16 square miles of the Pinelands over the weekend was caused by human activity, according to state fire investigators. … Investigators were tight-lipped about the evidence that lead them to this determination, but said they could not yet determine whether a crime had been committed.

The Asbury Park Press goes on to report on where the fire started:

The area where the fire was sparked was described as an open, sandy area near Spring Hill Road in Woodland Township in Burlington County. 

Please read the Asbury Park Press article for more information. The Asbury Press Article includes a photo gallery along with some NJFFS drone footage over the fire area (over 12 minutes long, the direct link to the drone footage may found here.

I prepared a couple of images for you based on the information in the Asbury Park Press article, locating Spring Hill Road using the search feature on Google Earth. The first image is a close-up of the area that was discussed in the article. I circled a sandy area off of Spring Hill Road. As the fire is named Spring Hill Fire, I am thinking that the sandy area I circled off of Spring Hill Road is one candidate for where the fire started. And if I am wrong, it is in the general area.

The second image is an image where I zoomed out.

I am looking around for more photo galleries that I can share with you. There were some photo galleries attached to the news articles that I shared on March 31st, I will look around for more.

I want to close by sharing a video. This is a video report from News12 New Jersey, which does have a pay wall, so I hope that all of you can see the video. This video is from earlier today before the preliminary results of the investigation were in. Early on in the video you will see a couple of aerial shots of the fire area. In the event that the script code does not work here is a direct link to the video report from News 12 New Jersey, note the video is muted and you have to click on the microphone to hear the audio (sorry about that).

2019 NJ fire season: Spring Hill Fire (NJ) April 1st update

I wrote yesterday about the Spring Hill Fire that has burned approximately 11,600 acres in the New Jersey Pine Barrens (aka the New Jersey Pinelands) in Burlington and Ocean Counties NJ.  The wildfire is now 100 percent contained. However, there are still areas that continue to burn so the New Jersey Forest Fire Service crews will continue to monitor the fire for several days, see this article from the Asbury Park Press (April 1st, 9:35 AM) for more information.

The Spring Hill Fire was first reported on Saturday, March 30th in Penn State Forest in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. I have no specific information about the location of this wildfire, but I did go into Google Earth and using Google Earth's search feature, I located Penn State Forest for you.

All major roads in the area of the Spring Hill Fire (Routes, 72, 539, 532, and 563) were open Sunday evening, March 31st.

Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today beat me to the punch, he reported on the Spring Hill Fire in a March 30th article that he has been updating. Thank-you Bill for your great reporting and for bringing the news of the Spring Hill Fire to your readers from the United States and Canada and around the world.

Early this morning a friend of mine who lives in South Florida and knows of my writing, told me that the Sun Sentinel (Broward County FL) had an article reporting on the Spring Hill Fire. Unfortunately, I was unable to find a link for you, but will keep looking. However, I did see an article from ABC News on my news feed this morning reporting on the Spring Hill Fire. So, it would seem that the news of the Spring Hill Fire has hit the wire services.

It is with some consternation that I say that I am glad for the national reporting on the Spring Hill Fire. The reason being is that a 10,000 acre is indeed a very major wildfire in New Jersey. In the ten years that I have been writing this blog on aerial wildland firefighting and related issues, the largest fire that I recall in the NJ Pine Barrens that was fought by NJFFS crews was the 3,500 acre Penn Swamp fire of July 2017.  Amanda Hoover of New Jersey Advance Media wrote a nice article at the time focusing on eleven very major fires that burned in the NJ Pine Barrens (and elsewhere in NJ), this article may be found here. Amanda wrote of the 1963 Chatsworth fires that burned 190,000 acres and two wildfires that burned over 10,000 acres (approximately 17,000 acres in May 2007, "Warren Grove Fire" and a wildfire in 1995 that burned 15,000 acres in Ocean County NJ). The other eight fires she wrote about were under 3,000 acres. She did reference a 2016 article in Rolling Stone Magazine in her article. I read the Rolling Stone piece, by Kyle Dickman, when it came out and went back and reread the article last night. Kyle's article is well researched and I trust his figures. I was especially interested in what he wrote about the infrequent of wildfires over 1,000 acres in the New Jersey Pinelands (what I refer to as the NJ Pine Barrens):

Over the past century, roughly 100,000 wildfires have burned in the Pinelands. According to a smaller state catalog of significant wildfires since 1905, firefighters or weather stopped all but 19 before they reached 1,000 acres, and only 10 grew beyond 10,000 acres. Just two became biblical blazes that torched more than 150,000 acres each.

One of the biblical blazes that Kyle referred to are the 1963 Chatsworth fires, I am not quite when what the other one is, perhaps in the first half of the twentieth century.

A friend of mine from the National Weather Service who is also a fire weather expert just sent me a link to a site from the Storm Prediction Center which displays the probability of wildfires of 100, 300, 1,000 or 5,000 acres. I am still getting used to this site, this is the link that he sent me. I saved a screen shot for you showing the probability on April 5th of a wildfire over 1,000 acres occurring in the Continental United States. As you can see the probability of such a fire occurring in New Jersey is very low (about 2 percent). As I understand it, you move forward and back in time by clicking on step at the upper right.

screen image taken on April 1, 2019 at 9:45 AM from https://www.spc.noaa.gov/new/FWclimo/climo.php?parm=1000ac