Hurricane Hunter Aircraft flying into Hurricane Dorian

As many of you know, Hurricane Dorian is gaining strength off of the coast of the United States. My purpose today is to write about the hurricane hunter aircraft flying into Hurricane Dorian, but first a few preliminaries. The image below is from the National Hurricane Center's web page, under the section for Hurricane Dorian. The National Hurricane Center (go here for their Facebook Page) is a good source of information about Hurricanes, but they do not provide location specific information. If you or a loved one lives in or near an area within striking distance of hurricane, you may go to the National Weather Service where you will see a map  of the United states, click on the area you are interested in. You will then be taken to the local National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office for your region (and check their social media accounts as well), and you will be able to get location specific hurricane advisories, watches and warnings.

Hurricane hunter aircraft may be from NOAA, see the NOAA Hurricane Hunter Facebook Page or from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron of the 403rd Wing (Air Force Reserve). The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron has a nice facebook page: U.S. Air Force Reserve 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Hurricane Hunters. These hurricane hunters fly into hurricanes including multiple flights into the eye to provide crucial data that is then used by weather forecasting models, including those from the National Hurricane Center, for hurricane forecasts issued by the National Hurricane Center.

If you want to know about current and upcoming missions of either the NOAA or the 53rd Squadron's hurricane hunters, go to the webpage for aerial reconnaissance in the North Atlantic Basin, you will find information about reconnaissance mapping on that webpage (Google Earth requires downloading a KMZ file and Cesium does not appear to work in Firefox).

I was thrilled to see that the NOAA Hurricane Hunters has an all female  three-pilot flight crew. This all female crew flies the Gulfstrean IV-SP, NOAA 49 "Gonzo" : Capt. Kristie Twining, Cmdr. Rebecca Waddington, and Lt. Lindsey Norman.

Here are some short videos shared by the NOAA Hurricane Hunters on their Facebook page:

• NOAA 42, aka Kermit (P3 Orion) taking off from NOAA's aircraft operations center early in the morning of August 29th for a reconnaissance mission into Dorian. Go here to see more information on NOAA's two P3 Orion Hurricane Hunter aircraft 
• NOAA 42 landing later on August 29th after completing a reconnaissance mission into Dorian.
• NOAA 42 while flying in Dorian's eye while on a reconnaissance mission into earlier on August 30th.

Here some nice Facebook posts from the U.S. Air Force Reserve 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron:

• August 27th news article about three WC-103J's and one C-130J Super Hercules ready to fly into Dorian
• Behind the scene planning and coordination for upcoming flights into Dorian (August 28th, photo only).
• Photos from an August 27th mission into Dorian
• Photos of buoys dropped by the 53rd's hurricane hunters (August 30th). These buoys will measure the temperature of the ocean surface, surface winds, and surface pressure.

I close by sharing two videos where you may learn a little more about what the hurricane hunters do.

In the first video from ABC Action News (serving Polk County Florida and environs) you will see one of NOAA's hurricane hunters taking off on a mission. This video was uploaded on August 29th.

Direct link to video from ABC Action News

The second video (just over four minutes) is from the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum with highlights of a hurricane hunter from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flight, uploaded in April 2019. The video appears to be taken on a flight into Hurricane Florence in September 2018.

Direct link to video   

A Little About the Wildfires in the Amazon

The wildfires that are currently burning in the Amazon have been making headlines in various news outlets so I expect that many of you reading this post know about these wildfires. I do want to spend a little time on these wildfires today. I don't know much about the actual size of the wildfires, nor can I say how many wildland firefighters on the ground and in the air are helping to fight these wildfires. But I do know that there is a lot of person power fighting these wildfires. Before going any further, I am not going to post any pictures because I understand, thanks to this post from Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today, that there are photos circulating claiming to be from the Amazon wildfires that are not of these wildfires.

 I do know that the Global Supertanker (747 tanker) is currently working in Boliva, flying the Amazon fires in that country, see this August 22nd post from Bill Gabbert's Wildfire Today for more information. Here are three tweets with short videosof the Supertanker working in Bolivia:

• Tweet #1 from Global Supertanker
• Tweet #2 from Global Supertanker
• Tweet #3 from ViVe TV (I learned of this tweet because of a retweet by Global Supertanker.

But there is some satellite imagery of these fires. Below is a satellite photo of the wildfires in Boliva, courtesy of Earth Observatory, for more information about this photo please go here where you can see an overlay with labels for the countries in South America. The image below, dated on or about August 27th, is an image from Landsat 8 courtesy of NASA's Earth Observatory

Instrument: Landsat 8 - OLI. Obtained on August 28, 2019 from https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/145522/fire-burns-in-paraguay-bolivia-and-brazil

The second satellite image is included in an August 21st article from NASA that may be found here.

A visit with the NJ Forest Fire Service at a County Fair

This past weekend was the Fair weekend in my parts: the annual County 4H and Agricultural Fair. This is always a fun time and I go every year, sometimes for more than one day. Yes, there are rides and games for the kids, bands and other entertainment, and the pleasure of watching the local $H clubs exhibit the projects they have worked on all you. Yes, there are shows for the various livestock, poultry and equine exhibitions. There is the tractor pull including a pedal tractor pull for the little ones on Saturday morning. I always enjoy the exhibit of antique tractors. I watched a couple of equine events, and visited the livestock and poultry tents.

But my favorite part this year was stopping by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service Table in one of the exhibition tents. I just missed Smokey Bear who paid a visit to celebrate his 75th anniversary. But I did get to chat with a New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) Wildland Firefighter from the section where I live. While I follow the NJFFS on various social media platforms, I rarely get a chance to have a conversation with a NJFFS firefighter in person. The best part was that he may live close to my town, at least he was intimately familiar with some of the open space in and adjacent to my town. More importantly, he knows the County where I live. He told me about the types of mostly smaller brush fires that they fight  and how they work with the local volunteer fire companies, some whom have brush trucks. We talked about how his section will help fight larger wildfires in other parts of New Jersey.

It was nice to put a face to one of these fine NJFFS firefighters who fight fires in my town and county. But my biggest take away is that he and the rest of the NJFFS in my section have the backs of their residents. This is true across New Jersey, your NJFFS section has your back. If the call comes, they will be there fighting the brush fire so that I may be safe. And if it should happen that the small brush fire turns into something larger, they will have our backs. I knew that the NJFFS works with the Volunteer Fire Companies, some of whom have their own brush trucks.

I got to thank him for his service. I told him about this blog, and how much I care about the NJFFS.

So for all the New Jersey Forest Fire Service wildland firefighters, no matter where you are in New Jersey, this post is for you. I want to say thank-you for having our backs, in the large wildfires and the small brush fires. You are there. Thank-you from the bottom of my heart. Stay safe.

SEATS - AT802 Fire Boss: 2019 edition

When I wrote about SEATS the other day (see my August 19th post), I did not specifically mention the Amphibious SEATS, namely Air Tractor's AT-802F Fire Boss (Fire Boss) Often, when I refer to SEATS in this blog, I am referring to both 800 gallon SEATs with conventional landing gear including but not limited to Air Tractor's 802F as well as the Fire Boss. Then of course, I should mention that there are SEATs with smaller tanks such as those manufactured by Thrush as well as Air Tractor (and others) that may be used in both agricultural and fire fighting operations.

Today I am specifically interested in the Fire Boss, the subject of this post. I do know that some of the contractors in the United States who have SEATs do have the Fire Boss in their fleet, but I do not know off hand which ones, nor do I know how many of the Call-When-Needed Contracts in the United States go to Fire Boss SEATS. I did want to have a blog post focusing on the Fire Boss, but was waiting to see some good video of them in action, especially scooping.

hanks to my friends at the NJFFS Section B10 Video of the Week (videos updated weekly) who recently shared a wonderful, but somewhat long (10 minutes) video of a group of three Fire Boss SEATs scooping water from Osooyos Lake in British Columbia, Canada while fighting the Richter Mountain Fire near Cawston British Columbia (see about this video in the link below). I did enjoy seeing this group of three Fire Boss SEATs, from Conair in Canada scooping as a group. (see this Conair page for more information on their Fire Boss fleet). I won't repeat the specs and other information here in this post, rather I will leave those of you who are interested in learning more to follow the links in this post. But I do want to mention that the tank capacity is 800 gallons and there is a separate foam tank to inject foam into the water prior to the drop.


Direct link to video by VMC Aviation Videos

Ode to helicopters: dip and drop

Dip and drop,dip and drop, dip and drop. Regular readers will know that I often think about helicopters, in part because of a friend who loved helicopters who died too soon. I think about the helicopters, not only Hueys but other similarly sized helicopters, that carry 500 gallon buckets. Many states have type 2 helicopters, perhaps under the Federal Excess Personal Property Program and Firefighter Property Program. Some of these helicopters might be smaller helicopters that are mainly used for observation, others might carry a 500 gallon bucket. Some firefighting helicopters use a tube that hangs from their belly to fill their tanks. However, my thoughts turn to these state helicopters with 300 to 500 gallon buckets, and the important work they can do helping wildland firefighters on the ground. Dip and drop, dip and drop, dip and drop. And on it goes. Dip and drop, dip and drop.

A water source close to the wildfire is very helpful, sometimes the water sources may be a small pond in a golf course or even a swimming pool. A helo dipping at a water body provides photo opportunities, but their work is so much more. These water sources for dipping, especially if they are close can mean that the helos and buckets can do a lot of drops. These drops can be an important part of initial attack. The helo crews communicate with the crews on the ground so they know where the drop is needed, and of course there is the skill of the pilots to know how to drop so the water/foam ends up at just the right spot. Perhaps the supervisor of a crew will ask for a drop where they are working, you will fly there and make the drop. Dip and drop, dip and drop.

I am not quite sure of the size of the bucket, 500 gallon or smaller,  in the video below, but that doesn't really matter as she and her pilot did good work to help the crews on the ground in Hawaii put out a grass fire.


Direct link to video

I don’t want to forget the National Guard or Air Force Reserve helicopters, often Blackhawks that have a larger bucket. Dip and drop, dip and drop, dip and drop. Your larger bucket means more water/foam on the fire. Whether you are called up to help out with a larger wildfire or perhaps work a smaller wildfire where there are not enough existing resources, your service is appreciated. Like your smaller cousins, your crew communicates with the wildland firefighters on the ground so you know where your drop is needed. Dip and drop, dip and drop.


Direct link to video

To the helos with buckets and their crew, I want you to know that I know you are there, no matter where you are flying. I know that you are there all the times that there may be no cameras recording your operations. The crews on the ground and those living near the wildfire appreciate you and so do I. Thank-you for your service. Your work can be dangerous and I know your pilots take precautions to stay safe.

Dip and drop, dip and drop, dip and drop

SEATs: 2019 edition

I have not forgotten about the great work that SEATs do in flying wildfires to help out the wildland firefighters on the ground. While their retardant tanks only hold 800 gallons, they are small and can use smaller landing strips then the larger air tankers. I have no specific information about the contractual situation for SEATs in 2019. I believe that the last two years that all SEATs were on call when needed contracts with no SEATs on exclusive use contracts.. However, I do know from video footage and media reports that SEATs have been flying this season. See for example, see this short video, courtesy of InciWeb shared by the NWS IMETs on their Facebook page of a seat flying the Tucker Fire in California earlier this year. KTXS 12 ABC has an August 15th news report with video of a SEAT based at the tanker base in Abilene Texas. Finally there is a nice video report from KREM2 CBS out of Spokane Washington where a SEAT pilot shows us his cockpit controls, go here for this August 15th report from KREM2.

Before you go take a look at these two very short videos of SEATs dropping on a wildfire. The first video is from 2010, showing a SEAT dropping on a wildfire in Idaho.


Direct link to video

The second video is from Texas A&M Forest Service of a SEAT dropping on a March 2018 wildfire in Gray County Texas.


Direct link to video

More on using GOES East and West to detect wildfires

I want to write a little more about how GOES East and West are used to detect wildfires. Some of you may recall that I wrote about how NWS Incident Meteorologists uses GOES East and West on May 3rd where I interview Robyn Heffernan, NWS Science and Dissemination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service National Fire Weather Program Office. Perhaps you want to pause and take a few moments to read my interview with Robyn.

I have been wanting to follow up on that May 3rd article on how GOES East and West are used to detect wildfires. Thanks to my friends at the NWS IMET Office for sharing a great video from GOES 17 (GOES West) showing smoke from the Williams fire on their Facebook Page. I have not been able to find this video on Youtube, so I hope you check out the Facebook post from the NWS IMETs to see this great GOES West imagery.

Here are a couple of videos from NOAA Satellites on Youtube with smoke and wildifre detection imagery.

Direct link to GOES 16 images of smoke and pyrocumulonimbus (pyroCb) in Alberta, Canada in May 2019

Direct link to GOES 17 from northern Saskatchewan, Canada in May 2018

I followed the link in the NWS IMET Facebook page sharing GOES West imagery of the Williams Fire and found some great information on how GOES East and West (also known as the GOES-R series of satellites is use for fire detections. What strikes both about the IMET post is that they mentioned that they can use GOES East and West to detect wildfires from their office. Of course, NWS Forecast Offices have the capability to utilize GOES East and West for wildfire detection as do IMETs in the field. Please take a moment to go and read this short two-page article on using the GOES-R series for fire detection. I'd like to quote from this report about the benefits of GOES-R applications for fire detection:

New ABI channels provide more information to forecasters and improved resolution and rapid scanning deliver high-definition images as often as every minute. This means a much more detailed look at fire conditions, faster detection of hot spots, and the ability to track fire progression and spread in real time to detect changes in a fire’s behavior and predict a fire’s motion. GOES-R Series satellites frequently detect fires before they are spotted on the ground – often before emergency notifications to 911. The satellites are also used to pinpoint the exact location of a fire after reports of smoke. 

GOES-R Series observations are not just valuable for detecting wildfires but are also critical to observing and monitoring smoke from those fires. The ability to monitor smoke plumes in near real-time is particularly useful in directing firefighting efforts from the air. Deploying airplanes and helicopters to spray fire retardant is often hampered due to poor visibility. GOES-R satellites can help guide decisions for deploying flights by providing information on the exact location and motion of smoke from a fire. The smoke detection and monitoring information also enable better air quality forecasts.

Finally if you want to learn a little more about how GOES West (GOES 17) is used for wildfire detection, please see this August 12th twitter post from the NWS Houston retweeted by NWS IMET Operations and take the time to explore the seven tweets from the NWS Houston with different types of GOES 17 wildfire detection imagery.

2019 wildfire season: IMETs ready to save lives

There have been no new IMET deployments since August 9th, but with a two week deployment, I am sure that there are IMETs assigned to wildfire working to save lives. The NWS IMET Office has a Facebook Page (the first link in the list of deployments below is to their Facebook Post for the deployment in question). The NWS IMET Office also has a Twitter account. Here are some IMET deployments over the last several days. I am only listing wildfires at or below 70 percent containment and I don't know if the IMETs are still assigned to these fires:

• August 3rd, US NWS Pendleton Oregon IMET deployed to the Williams Flat Fire near Keller Washington, 45,359 acres burned at 65 percent containment.
• August 4th, US NWS Elko Nevada IMET deployed to Cove Creek Fire near Salmon, Idaho, 4,394 acres burned at 59 percent containment
• August 5th, US NWS Boise Idaho IMET deployed to the Nethker Fire near McCall, Idaho, 2,340 acres at 63 percent containment.
• August 7th, US NWS Portland Oregon IMET deployed to the 163HKComplex near Monument, OR, size and containment information not known.
• August 7th, US NWS Missoula Montana IMET deployed to the Bees Kove Fire near Missoula, Montana, 429 acres burned at 47 percent containment.
• August 9th, US NWS IMET trainee from the US NWS Western Region onsite at the Nethker Fire near McCall, Idaho, 2,340 acres at 63 percent containment. I wrote about IMET trainees in July 2017.

Finally, before you go, some of you know that IMETs sometimes launch weather balloons (aka radiosonde) when deployed to a fire. The IMET Office shared a short video on their Facebook Page on August 1st showing IMET Tom Wright launching a radiosonde. It is a nice video and even if you are familiar with radiosondes, I think you will enjoy this short two minute video.

IMETs save lives!

Escaping the Camp Fire

Jon Mooallem (photographs by Katy Grannan) wrote a long article in the August 4 2019 New York Times Magazine on escaping from the Camp Fire that burned in Paradise California in the fall of 2018. The Camp Fire burned over 150,00 acres and killed at least 84 people. As for structures, over 13,500 single-family residences, over 280 multiple-family residences and over 510 commercial buildings were destroyed.

I subscribe to the New York Times, so I read both the print version and the digital version. The only difference is that the digital version has some videos, I’ll get to those in a moment. The New York Times has a paywall but you do get a few free views each month.

In this essay (that I link to at the end of this article, you will follow Tamara Fisher as she gets out of Paradise California the day the fire started. To say that her escape is harrowing, is an understatement. She drives a short distance before the traffic stops, and as she sits there the fire gets worse. As she is sitting in traffic not going anywhere the car starts to burn up so she abandons her car. She is terrified, fearing for her life. You will meet Larry Laczko, a contractor who was also trying to drive out of Paradise that morning. Larry sees Tamara get out of her car as her car is starting to burn and tells her to get in his truck. Larry and Tamaras finally do get out of Paradise but it is harrowing. There is Joe Kennedy, driver of a bulldozer who finds himself at the Camp Fire helping to clear the way for folk to escape. And there are others.

The essay is very intense, Tamara’s videos are graphic and very intense. I can see that this might upset some of you for a variety of reasons. And if you are one of those, perhaps you want to stop here and move on.

I spent a few days thinking about whether or not to share this article with you because of the intense and graphic nature of the the essay. It is also a long article. I am still a little hesitant. But I post the link to this article because I think it is an important story. Perhaps not so much for those who have lived through the Camp Fire whether you be residents of Paradise and environs or firefighters. From my seat through Moopalien’s writing, the videos and Grannan’s photos, I experienced the exodus from Paradise in a way that is not otherwise possible. For that reason, I am sharing this article with you, go here to read We Have Fire Everywhere: Escaping California’s Deadliest Blaze. Kudos to Jon Mooallem for his great reporting and Katy Grannan for her stunning photographs.

2019 wildfire season: Upper Yukon Alaska wildfires

I have been writing about the wildfires in Alaska of late, see for example my July 26th post about the New Jersey Forest Fire crew, NJS#1 that was deployed to Alaska and my August 2nd post about crews from the continental United States deployed to Alaska. I wanted to do something a little different today, I will get to that in a moment. First, I went to the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center to look at the latest Situation Report from the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center (August 8, 2019), the latest situation report may be found here so the numbers I am presenting here (taken from the August 8th Situation Report) may be different from the latest Situation Report. As of Thursday August 8th, there have been 615 wildfires in Alaska this year that have burned 2,434,032.3 acres where lightning caused wildfires account for 2,391,207 acres, new and or staffed wildfires account for 511,541.8 acres with the difference in acreage representing wildfires in monitoring status.

Always looking for something a little different, as I was today, I checked out Mike Archer's Wildfire News of the Day (go here for subscription information). In his August 5th edition of his Wildfire News of the Day e-mail, I found a nice story from Must Read Alaska showcasing drone footage of the 500,000 acre Chalkitsik Complex (upper Yukon). The Chalkitsik Complex has a page on inciweb. The drone aka (UAS) footage is from the AKIMT/BLM AFS Alaska Fire Service/DNR Alaska Division of Forestry. The video below was embedded in the Must Read Alaska article, uploaded by the 2019 AKUYD Chalkyitisk Complex.


Direct link to video from the 2019 AKUYD Chalkyitisk Complex

I then went to Alaska Fire Info to see if I could find any interesting photographs and I was in luck. I found a nice photo essay from a wildland firefighter from the Tanana Chiefs Initial Attack Crew, the photo essay is dated August 8th and an August 7th photo essay of the Chalkyitisk  Complex. The Chalkyitisk Complex is, if I am not mistaken, located in the Upper Yukon in Alaska, Alaska Fire Info posted an update about the status of the wildfires burning in the Upper Yukon, with a map here.

Aviation Safety: an Air Traffic Controller speaks on thunderstorms

I am in a hurry to finish todays work on my blog in advance of thunderstorms moving through my area. As a non-pilot aviation enthusiast, I am always interested in aviation safety in addition to weather safety.

I found this excellent video from the Air Safety Institute of the AOPA where an Air Traffic Controller talks about thunderstorm, the target audience is pilots. But I think that all of us can learn from this. At the very least, you will learn what Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) due to keep airplanes safe in the sky when thunderstorms are in the area. You will hear the ATCs in the video talk about pireps, short for pilot reports that pilots make to ATC.


Direct link to video from Air Safety Institute

Fire lookouts up close and personal

Enjoy these two videos about fire lookouts.

In the first video you will visit the Pickett Butte Lookout Tower. It is an active fire lookout during fire season in the Umpqua Natonal Forest in the Cascades in Oregon. It is utilized as a fire lookout during the summer from approximately July 15 through October 1 and is available for rent the rest of the time.


Direct link to video from Seatlleleet

You will hear from fire watcher Shirley Payne in the last video. Shirley is a U.S.F.S fire lookout who has staffed the Baker Butte fire lookout near Pine Arizona for 24 years.


Direct link to video From the AZCentral and the Arizona Republic

2019 wildfire season: crews from lower 48 in Alaska

On July 22nd, I wrote about U.S. based crews from outside Alaska who were deployed to Alaska. I am writing this article to follow-up on crews from outside Alaska who are currently deployed to Alaska wildfires as of August 2nd. I obtained this information from the August 2nd Out of Area Crews report that I found on the crews page linked to on the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center (AICC) website. Information on wildfire acreage is either obtained from Alaska Fire Info or the AICC Situation Report for August 2nd. If you are arriving here after August 2nd, you may found the August 2nd Situation Report in the section labeled Previous AICC Situation Reports on this AICC Predictive Services Intelligence / Reports page.

Chalkyitsik Complex (Upper Yukon), 501,629 acres

Crews from the lower 48 assigned to the Complex: Winema IHC (OR),Big Bear IHC (CA). T2IA crews: CA(3),MN, OR.

A Type 2IA crew from OR is assigned to Small Timber Lake (34 acres) within the Complex.

August 1st update from Alaska Fire Info includes link to video embedded below



Cornucopia Complex, 85,511 acres

Crews from lower 48 deployed to complex: Type 2IA: CA(2), IN
Crews from lower 48 deployed to individual wildfires within complex:

• Chandler River, crew from lower 48: Type 2IA: CA
• East Fork Chandler, crew from lower 48:Type 2IA: CA
• Hadweenzic River, crews from lower 48: Tallac IHC (CA), Redmond IHC (OR)

August 1st update from Alaska Fire Info

Grouse Creek, 49,121 acres, crew from lower 48: Type 2IA: CA

Rainbow 2, 19,757 acres, crews from lower 48: Type 2IA: MN, OR

Alaska Fire Info
Alaska Fire Info on Facebook

AG-Cat crop dusting up close and personal

Being in the middle of what seems like our weekly line of thunder storms passing through my area of New Jersey this seems like a perfect time to share a video that I came across last week about flying a Turbine Ag-Cat for crop dusting. The video was uploaded by Scott Palmer who according to his Youtube channel is a pilot, professional skydiver, indoor sky diving coach and adventurer. In the video below, he takes us along for a day flying a turbine Ag-Cat crop dusting in Washington

Allow a little more than 15 minutes for the video. Thanks to my friends at NJFFS Section B10 for sharing this video in their video of the week page several days ago.

Hopefully I will be off before the I hear more thunder.


Direct link to video uploaded by Scott Palmer

2019 wildfire season: IMET deployments (July 22-26)

As wildfire season has ramped up in the western region of the lower 48 in the United States as well as in Alaska, there is an increase in deployments of National Weather Service Incident Meteorologists (METs) to wildfires over the last month. You may go and check on IMET deployments for yourself at the US National Weather Service IMET Facebook page, they also post educational materials such as this 55 minute video, Fire on the 5s on remote sensing and wildland fires. I have watched this video and learned a lot, I will probably watch it again soon.

By my unofficial count, IMETs have been deployed to at least nine different fires since July 10th: Alaska (3), Nevada (1), Arizona (2), Idaho (1), Oregon (1) and Washington (1). Sometimes more than one IMET will be deployed to a fire. Included in these figures are the following IMET deployments since July 22nd up to and including July 26th:

• July 22nd, NWS Flagstaff Arizona IMET deployed to Museum Fire near Flagstaff Arizona: 1,961 acres burned at 61percent containment.
• July 22nd, NWS Boise Idaho IMET deployed to Vader Fire near Stanley Idaho: 443 acres burned at 95 percent containment.
• July 26, NWS Medford OR IMET deployed to Milepost97 Fire near Canyonville Oregon: 11,668 acres burned at 10 percent containment.
• July 26, NWS Spokane WA IMET deployed to Left Hand Fire near Naches Washington: 2,500 acres at 8 percent containment.

Typically, IMETs serve a two-week deployment on a wildfire providing important weather forecasts for the area where the wildfire is burning, go read this NWS article about what IMETs do to learn more about what IMETs do. Remember IMETs save lives.

2019 wildfire season:NJ Forest Fire Service Crew nears end of two week deployment in Alaska

The NJS #1 crew from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service is near the end of their two week deployment in Alaska. NJFFS A2 Firefighters Association has been doing a great job under difficult circumstances (no direct communications with crew due to remote location) providing updates on NJS #1 crew. Here is their July 24th update on the Grouse Creek Fire where the NJ# #1 crew has been assigned. The Grouse Creek Fire is located about six miles north of Rampart, Alaska.

The size is now estimated at 30,276.1 acres. Personnel assigned remains at 107. There is still no direct cell phone communications with NJFFS crew, due to the remote location. Report from the AICC SitRep - Numerous residences commercial facilities and infrastructure as well as many structures and out buildings are under threat from this fire. Protection efforts are needed as well as continued assessment of best strategy to work on this fire. Crews will continue notification and survey of community along with preparing structures as needed. Continue needs assessment and complete evacuation plan for Rampart Village.

Also on July 24th, NJFFS A2 shared a short video shot by wildland firefighters assigned to the Grouse Creek Fire. The fire was burning in Black Spruce along and near the Yukon River.

Finally, the NJFFS A2 just provided an update about an hour ago (July 26th), saying in part:

All indications are that the New Jersey crew will complete today's assignments and then begin the demob process. Information from the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center this morning is vague, at best. "Prior to the morning hours on Thursday, the fire pushed in a northeast direction toward Troublesome Creek. Ongoing point protection work will continue with structures and allotments both up and downriver from Rampart. Hose lays and sprinklers will be tested. Mop up will continue." 

To the NJS #1 Crew, I am so very of you. You honor us here in New Jersey with your service helping out in Alaska. I am so very proud of you. Stay safe and safe travel home.

Updated on July 31 2019: the links to the Facebook posts from the NJFFS A2 Firefighters Association are no longer active. Other sources of information are the daily situation reports from the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center (AICC), and Alaska Fire Info (daily updates during fire season). Updates about when the NJS #1 crew was released was also obtained from the Eastern Area Coordination Center's  Interagency Resource Representative Report (IARR), updated daily while Eastern Area crews are deployed.

2019 wildfire season: Sheep Fire at Idaho National Labs, late evening update

July 26, 2019 3:15 PM

Normal operations resumed at INL on Thursday, July 25. It is anticipated the Sheep Fire will be at 100 percent containment this evening. No INL structures were damaged, there were no injuries, and there were no radiation releases. At the time I am writing this, the INL Emergency Operations Page still has information on the Sheep Fire.


July 24, 2019 10:15 PM
I am writing to provide a late day update on the Sheep Fire that is burning on lands owned by the Idaho National Labs (INL), please see the article on the Sheep Fire that I wrote earlier this morning. I was out and about today enjoying a nice summer day in New Jersey. Even so, I found myself checking out the INL Emergency Operations Page as well as Bill Gabbert's Wildfire Today. I was waiting for INL to post their July 24th afternoon press conference about the Sheep Fire and looking for any updates by Bill Gabbert. Bill did not disappoint as he updated his reporting on the Sheep Fire at 6:37 MDT. He has a good report and I hope that you take the time to review his updated article with links to photos and videos of the fire as well as some information about weather conditions impacting fire operations this afternoon. Finally, He shared the video of INL's afternoon press conference, I will get to that in a minute. Briefly, important take-aways from Bill's latest update confirmed by INL Emergency Operations are:

• INL continues to monitor radiation and air quality. There are no radiation releases. 
• Commercial power at INL is not affected by the Sheep Fire. Repairs are underway to electrical infrastructure damaged in the fire without affecting power to INL.
• Normal operations at INL are expected to resume on Thursday, July 25th.

As I was preparing to write this article I first went back to the  INL Emergency Operations Page and saw their latest update today at 7:17 MDT (on July 24th) with some updates to the information reported in their earlier press conference. That is, the fire has burned 113,000 an increase of 3,000 acres from the figure reported earlier, containment is estimated at 60 percent, and the fire is no longer a threat to INL research facilities.

So, keeping in mind that there is later information not referred to in INL's July 24th press conference, I am sharing the video for your convenience. Those of you who have already seen Bill's article may have already watched this video on his site. Careful listening reveals that they were hoping for 50 to 60 percent containment and that they were in the process of doing some mapping of the fire to ascertain acreage burned. The video is over 24 minutes long. In the first 7 minutes of the video you will hear from various INL personnel and contractors about their operations. The report from the INL fire chief about wildfire operations starts at about 7 minutes followed by a Q&A period.

2019 wildfire season: Sheep Fire burns near Idaho National Labs

I was perusing Bill Gabbert's Wildfre Today site earlier this morning where I came upon his very good article (with a map) on July 23rd reporting on the Sheep Fire that has burned 90,000 acres near Idaho National Labs (about 24 miles north of Idaho Falls). Idaho National Labs (INL) engages in nuclear energy research and development. The Sheep Fire started from a lightning strike about 6:30 PM local time on Monday, July 22nd. INL's emergency operations center was activated a short time later on the 22nd.  As Bill has reported and confirmed by INL's Emergency Operations press releases:

• non-essential employees have been evacuated from several INL facilities, 
• INL is anticipating a loss of commercial electrical power and have back-up plans,
• INL continues to do radiation monitoring and levels are within normal parameters.

I understand from the INL Emergency Operations press release that firefighters from INL and the Bureau of Land Management responded to the wildfire. To follow the latest from the Sheep Fire, go to the INL Emergency Operations page where at the time I write this, they have a series of press releases, at the time I am writing this post, no injuries have been reported, winds continue to be a challenge, and air quality testing is ongoing. As always, if you are arriving here later, the information at the link I provided might be different. 

Idaho National Labs had a press conference on the afternoon of July 23rd, a summary of this press conference was posted to their Youtube Channel, and I am embedding it below. I did have some trouble with some of the audio, I could not hear some of the Q&As. But they did provide information on fighting the wildfire in the first few minutes of the video. For example, there has been airsupport including 1 very large airtanker, 3 large airtankers and a few SEATs. I believe that wildland firefighters through mutual aid from fire companies in and perhaps outside of Idaho have been helping local wildland firefighters fight the fire.

Direct link to July 23rd video from Idaho National Labs

Please see my late evening July 24th for an update on this fire.

2019 wildfire season: out of state crews working in Alaska

I had heard that were many United States based crews located outside Alaska that are working in Alaska. I got curious and went looking and am sharing this information with you. The information below is only U.S. based crews and does not reflect crews from Canada that may be helping in Alaska. The information below on U.S. Crews working wildfires in Alaska is from the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center obtained from the  Situation Report for July 22, 2019 (updated daily). Out of State crews in red. Crews are usually 20 persons.

Part of Cornucopia Complex
1. Chandalar River, 1,000 acres
Type 1 IHC: American River (CA), Union (OR)

2. East Fork 143 acres
Type 2: AK

3. Frozen Calf 6,528 acres
Type 2 IA: AK

4. Hadweenzk River 54,953 acres
Type 1 IHC: Chena (AK), Eldorado (CA), Mad River (CA), Tallac (CA)
Type 2: AK
Type 2 IA: CA
Type 1 Modules : SD, CO 

5. Tony Slough, 4,937 acres
Type 2 IA: MT

Grouse Creek 13,498 acres
Type 1 Module, MT
Type 1 IHC: Prineville, OR
Type 2 IA: NJ, OH

Hess Creek 173,467 acres
Type 2 modules: AK, 3

Klutina River 126 acres
Type 1 IHC: Bitterroot, MT

Kobe 896 acres
Type 1 IHC: Midewin, IL
Type 2: AK, WA
Type 2 IA: MO (2), AK

Little Creek 135 acres
Type 1 IHC: Midnight Sun, AK

McCall Creek 3,384.5 acres
Type 1 IHC: Pioneer Peak, AK

Rainbow 2 15,000 acres
Type 1 Module: UT, ID
Type 2 IA: MT, WA

Shovel Creek 21,309 acres
Type 2: AK, 2
Type 2 IA: CA, WA, AK

Swan Lake 107,027 acres
Type 1 IHC: Flathead, MT
Type 2 IA: AK, 4
Type 1 Module: ID, CA
Type 2 Module: OR

2019 wildfire season: NJ Forest Fire Service Crew in Alaska (July 20th)

The crew from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, NJS Crew #1 continues their work near Rampart Alaska on the Grouse Creek and Twin Ponds Fires. I believe that they are at the end of their first week of a two week deployment. The last information I was able to find is that posted by the NJFFS A2 Firefighters Association on July 19th, who wrote that the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center website is offline. I myself tried to access this site just now, and I was unable to. To the best of my knowledge what the A2 Firefighters Association posted on July 19th, information for July 18th, is the last available information. For those interested, I wrote about NJS Crew #1 on July 16th and 17th.

From A2 Firefighters Association Facebook Page on July 19th:

Friday, July 19, 2019 - NJS Crew 1 - Grouse Creek (#485) and Twin Ponds (#486) – 8,500 acres, 95 firefighters 

The Grouse Creek and Twin Pond fires are burning about 6 miles northeast of Rampart. Growing to roughly 14,000 acres, the fire has pushed through the tundra driven by 5-10 mph winds. Crews continue to assess and protect structures and allotments at fish camp and Alfred’s cabin. A perimeter flight is planned for today around Grouse Creek. 

The Garnet Creek Fire, 12 miles southwest of Rampart, has burned 2,000 acres and is being monitored by the incident management team stationed at Rampart. Increased fire activity, driven by the wind, moved the fire east on Thursday toward a sparser fuel component. Smoke will be visible throughout the Rampart area and likely settle in low lying drainages and along the Yukon River. 

Updated on July 31 2019: the links to the Facebook posts from the NJFFS A2 Firefighters Association are no longer active. Other sources of information are the daily situation reports from the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center (AICC), and Alaska Fire Info (daily updates during fire season).

2019 wildfire season: NJ Forest Fire Service Crew in Alaska (July 17th)

I continue to follow NJFFS A2 Firefighters Association's coverage of NJS Crew #1 in Alaska on the Grouse Creek Fire, see my earlier post of July 16th. Here is an excerpt from the NJFFS A2 Firefighters Association July 17th update of about 10:30 AM EDT, they are referring to a late night (July 16th) report from Alaska:

Ninety-five people are assigned to the Grouse Creek and Twin Pond fires, which are burning about 6 miles northeast of Rampart. The two fires have burned together and are estimated at 7,750 acres combined. … Structure assessment and protection around the village of Rampart is complete and is continuing on the north edge of the fire and at the nearby mine. The Incident Management Team is finalizing an evacuation plan, should an evacuation become necessary, and the structure protection plan.

NJFFS A2 has accessed and incorporates daily intelligence situation reports and other information about the Grouse Creek Fire from the Alaska Interagency Fire Center in their reporting. This takes a bit of time to go and fetch it and I appreciate their efforts.

The NJ Forest Fire Service posted a report and photo of NJS Crew #1 in Alaska on July 16th; they wrote that this was the first time a NJFFS crew has been deployed to Alaska.

NJFFS Section B10 is also covering the fire on their Facebook page.

The only local reporting from the New Jersey region of the NJS Crew #1 that I know of to date is from NJ Advance Media (aka NJ.com) who published an article on July 17th.

My thoughts are with the NJS Crew #1 as they work the Grouse Point and Twin Pond Fires in Alaska. Thank-you for honoring New Jersey with your service. Stay safe.

Updated on July 17th at 7PM

The NJFFS A2 Firefighters Association posted two more articles today. In the first article (about 2PM) they shared that the Grouse Creek Fire is now at 8,500 acres. In another article, that they just posted, they share a picture of NJS 1 Crew (courtesy of Donna Storch) unloaded an airplane at the Rampart Airport. The photo and another short update on the Grouse Creek Fire is found in a longer article (dated July 17th) on the Alaska Wildland Fire Info Website about fires burning in the Tanana district of Alaska, where the Grouse Creek Fire is currently burning, you will have scroll down to read the piece about the Grouse Creek Fire with Ms. Storch's photo. Note, I am not sure how long this link with the article will be valid.

Updated on July 31 2019: the links to the Facebook posts from the NJFFS A2 Firefighters Association are no longer active. Other sources of information are the daily situation reports from the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center (AICC), and Alaska Fire Info (daily updates during fire season).

2019 wildfire season: New Jersey Forest Fire Service Crew deployed to Alaska

I am late in posting that the New Jersey Forest Fire Service deployed NJS crew #1 to Alaska on Friday, July 12th. See the NJFFS Section B10 July 13th Facebook post for a statement on the deployment, they say in part:

Friday’s mobilization of a 20-person interagency handcrew of New Jersey firefighters to Alaska marks a first for the state. Experiencing record-breaking high temperatures and unseasonable dryness, Alaska has reported over 160 active large fires burning almost 1.5 million total acres. With local resources strapped by the demands of active incidents, Alaska’s area Preparedness Level has been declared a 5, the highest on the scale.

The crew traveled to Fairbanks Alaska then to Fort Wainwright for staging.

The NJFFS A2 Firefighters Association has been posting updates on NJS Crew #1 deployment in Alaska. According to their July 14th post the crew is assigned to the Grouse Creek Fire, perhaps caused by lightning, six miles from Rampart Alaska near the Yukon River.  In their July 15th Facebook post, the NJFFS A2 Firefighter Association says in part:

NJS #1 is assigned to. Undergoing extreme fire behavior. Fire growth in several directions but predominantly moving northeast. 3 separate columns were observed. Expecting acreage to double in the next 24hrs and to possibly double again within 48 hrs. Threatened in addition to Rampart are allotments and structures from NE to SW of the fire along and near the Yukon River. … Working on MAPs. Will continue needs assessment and draft evacuation plan. 

I may have been late in this first post about NJS Crew #1, but be assured that I have been thinking about them the last few days. I am very proud of the crew. You honor New Jersey. Stay safe.

Updated on July 31 2019: the links to the Facebook posts from the NJFFS A2 Firefighters Association are no longer active. Other sources of information are the daily situation reports from the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center (AICC), and Alaska Fire Info (daily updates during fire season).

wildland firefighter safety: weather

I started writing about wildland firefighter safety last month, see this article for a synopsis including links to earlier articles in this series. One of the important considerations for wildland firefighter safety is weather. I am embedding another video from the WFSTAR series from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. My understanding is that the WFSTAR series of videos are used in wildland firefighter training, initial and/or refresher training. I have embedded WFSTAR videos in some of my earlier articles in this series.

Today's video is called Weather and Wind Warnings. In the video, you will hear Heath Hockenberry, National Fire Weather Program Leader, discuss weather and wind warnings and how to stay weather aware. While perhaps aimed at wildland firefighters, I think that anyone interested in wildland firefighting and how wildland firefighters stay safe will enjoy this video. And any weather geeks, like me, will also enjoy the video. In addition to discussing weather and wind warnings, Heath refers to Incident Meteorologists (IMETs) when these specially training National Weather Service Meteorologists are deployed to wildfires. I learned how wildland firefighters stay weather aware whether or not an IMET is deployed to their fire.

If a wildfire does not have an IMET deployed to their wildfire, incident commanders, supervisors and and others will be in touch with the local National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office for forecasts and as appropriate spot forecasts specific to the area where the wildfire is. The forecasts will be relayed to wildland firefighters in assembled briefings and/or over the radio.

After I saw Heath's video on weather and wind warnings, I wrote my friends at the IMET Office telling them what I was doing and asking Heath the following question:

Random Ramblings: Heath, what is one thing that you would like my readers to take away from this video?

Heath: I would say one of the key items found in the video is the section on personal responsibility. Your meteorologist's forecast can take you 90% of the way in understanding the type of conditions you can expect on a fire line. The last 10% of the way consists of watching for cumulus buildups, or watching the tops of the trees, or being aware of subtle changes in wind speeds and/or directions. Weather in complex terrain is highly variable and your IMET is there to provide the fire environment foundation. The actual experience of the weather rests upon that foundation, and personal situational assessment is key to minimize fire fighting dangers related to weather.

Allow just under thirteen minutes to watch the video. I don't know about, you I watched the video a couple of times.


Direct link to Weather and Wind Warnings from Youtube

I am still thinking about and doing background research for other articles in this series on wildland firefighter safety. Stay tuned.

Remembering fallen wildfighters: 2018 thru June 30, 2019

As I was writing about the fallen firefighters of: Storm King Mountain, T-11, C-130 MAFFs, and the Granite Mountain Hotshots; I found myself thinking about the individuals who died in 2018 and the first half of 2019. Only one incident saw two deaths. So with this post I pause to remember those wildland firefighters. I got the information for this post from Always Remember. Links are provided for each fallen wildland firefighter to a page on Always Remember.

• Anthony Colacino, April 21, 2018 from the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation while on a training hike.
• Braden Varney, July 14, 2018. Joint CAL FIRE and U.S. Forest Service, heavy equipment operator for hire, Ferguson Fire in the Sierra National Forest.
• July 26, 2018 at the Carr Fire (CA): Don Ray Smith, CAL FIRE dozer operator, private dozer for hire; and Jeremy Stoke, fire inspector, Redding Fire Department.
• Andrew Brake, August 9, 2018 at the Carr Fire (CA) heavy equipment mechanic, firefighter, CAL FIRE.
• Matthew Burchett, August 13, 2018; One of five firefighters from the Draper City Utah Fire Department deployed to the Mendicino Complex (CA).
• Eric Christopher "Chris" Aarseth, September 4, 2018. firefighter II. Miller Timber Services, Inc. Chris was released from the Horns Mountain Fire near Northrop Washington on August 27th. He was found unresponsive at his home on August 28th and died on September 4th, possibly from an infection which became septic. As he may have been exposed while working the fire, his death has been tentatively categorized as a line of duty death. 
• Daniel Laird, March 27, 2019. A-Star 350 helicopter, Helitack Capitan from the Tahoe National Forest in California. The A-Star 350 helicopter Daniel was riding in crashed while doing aerial ignition for routine controlled burn at Sam Houston National Forest in Montgomery County, TX. 

Please pause for a moment and join me in remembering Anthony, Braden, Jeremy, Andrew, Matthew, Chris, and Daniel and the family, friends and colleagues they left behind. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten

Remembering fallen wildland firefighters: Storm King, T-11, MAFFs, and Granite Mountain Hotshots

This is the time of year when I find myself remember a couple of fatal air tanker crashes and incidents where several wildland firefighters died. I will write some remembrances in honor of fallen wildland firefighters in two parts, part two should post on Friday, July 12th.

On July 6, 1994 I was not writing about wildland firefighting but I suspect that the death of 14 wildland firefighters while fighting the South Canyon Fire on Storm King Mountain in Colorado made the national news. However, when I was first getting interested in wildland firefighting in the fall of 2008, I read about the South Canyon Fire in John MacLean's Fire on the Mountain: The True Story of the South Canyon Fire. Maclean's writing of the South Canyon fire and the death of the fourteen firefighters made an impression on me. In addition, over the years, I have read about the fourteen deaths at the South Canyon Fire in various places on the internet. With July 6th being the 25th anniversary, I can not help but be reminded of the fourteen who died, Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today wrote a great July 6th article on the 14 deaths on Storm King Mountain with videos and other links, check it out.

There were other incidents with fatalities that happened in June or July since I have been writing this blog. There were the two air tanker crashes in 2012, the crash of T-11 on June 4th while working the White Rock Fire near Hamblin Valley Utah, and the July 2, 2012 crash of a C-130 MAFFs from the North Caroline Air National Guard 145th Aircraft Wing while flying the White Draw Fire near Edgemont SD (see my July 2, and July 3, 2012 articles)

Finally, there are the June 30, 2013 deaths of nineteen members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots out of Prescott Arizona while fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire (near Prescott). One of my family members was in Prescott Arizona when the ninteteen wildland firefighters died, she sent me some photos of a tribute that I shared on July 2, 2013. Bill Gabbert covered the sixth anniversary of the loss of nineteen Granite Mountain Hotshots in a June 30, 2016 post.

Please join me in pausing and remembering those who died in these incidents and the loved ones, friends and colleagues they left behind.

I remember,your sacrifice will not be forgotten.

South Canyon Fire, Storm King Mountain
Prineville Hotshots: Kathi Beck, Tamera Bickett, Scott Blecha, Levi Brinkley, Douglas Dunbar, Terri Hagen, Bonnie Holtby, Rob Johnson, Jon Kelso.
Missoula Smokejumper: Don Mackey
McCall Smokejumpers: Roger Roth, Jim Thrash.
Helitack: Robert Browning, Jr., Richard Tyler.

Tanker 11
Todd Neal Tompkins, pilot
Ron Edwin Chambless, co-pilot

C-130 MAFFS, North Carolina Air National Guard, 145 Aircraft Wing
Lt. Col. Paul K. Mikeal (pronounced like "Michael")
Maj. Joseph M. McCormick
Maj. Ryan S. David (pronounced da-veed)
Senior Master Sgt. Robert S. Cannon

Granite Mountain Hotshots, Yarnell Hill Fire
Andrew Ashcraft
Robert Caldwell
Travis Carter
Dustin Deford,
Christopher MacKenzie
Eric Marsh
Grant McKee
Sean Misner
Scott Norris
Wade Parker
John Percin
Anthony Rose
Jesse Steed
Joe Thurston
Travis Turbyfill
William Warneke
Clayton Whitted
Kevin Woyjeck
Garret Zuppiger

2019 wildfire season: Alaska (July 9)

The State of Alaska has had a very active wildfire season so far this year. According to Bill Gabbert's July 8th article, the National Interagency Fire Center has Alaska at it's highest level of prepardness, level 5. He goes on to report on the deployment of additional hotshot crews to Alaska and some of the larger wildfires. There are National Weather Service Incident Meteorologists (IMETs) currently deployed to Alaska, see this July 5th Facebook Post from the US National Weather Service IMETs. IMETs save lives!

Inciweb has information on five Alaska wildfires, I suspect that this is just a partial listing of the active wildfires in Alaska as inciweb only lists wildfires on federal lands:

Swan Lake Fire: 96,889 acres at 14 percent containment
Montana Creek Fire: 356 acres at 30 percent containment
Nugget Creek Fire: 6,937 acres, no containment information
Shovel Creek Fire: 12,053 acres at 15 percent containment
Hess Creek Fire: 146,321 acres, no containment information

Here are some recent videos about the wildfires in Alaska, thanks to my friends at NJFFS Section B10 for sharing these videos this week.

From the National Interagency Fire Center, uploaded on July 3rd


Direct link to video

Alaska National Guard at Montana Creek Fire


Direct link to video

Fire footage


Direct link to video

wildland firefighter safety: synopsis and what is coming up

I recently wrote a few articles about wildland firefighter safety. Here is a listing of those recent articles for your convenience. These articles are only possible because of some excellent videos that I embed in each post as well other relevant materials that I have found on the internet.

June 12, 2019. 2019 wildfire seasons: reflections on being safe
June 14, 2019. wildland firefighter safety: 10 standard fire orders
June 17, 2019. wildland firefighter safety: 18 situations that shout watch out
June 21, 2019. wildland firefighter safety L.C.E.S.
June 24, 2019. wildland firefighter safety: personal protective equipment
June 26, 2019. wildland firefighter safety: fire shelters
June 28, 2019. wildland firefighter safety: training

I do plan to write additional articles about wildland firefighter safety, both on the ground and in the air. I am working on an article about weather that I hope to post in a week or so. As some of my long-time readers know, I have written about the safety of air operations over wildfires. Yes, I have written several articles about the danger that unmanned aircraft systems (aka drones) pose to aerial operations over wildfires (and to airports). But there are other aspects of aviation safety over wildfires that I have written about in the past and want to revisit, and possibly update including but not limited to: checklists, emergency retardant drops. temporary flight restrictions, winds, and smoke. At the very least, I want to spend some time reviewing the articles that I have written in the past before posting a link to those articles. 

Happy Fourth of July (2019)

Direct link to U.S. Flag Video on YouTube

Happy Birthday America!

I wish everyone in the United States, including those of you are traveling or living outside the U.S., a very happy and safe Fourth of July.

Enjoy this nine minute video of Fourth of July (2018) fireworks in the Orlando Florida area shot from a private plane.



Direct link to video on YouTube

Eagles in flight: for my friend Bob

I post this video today of eagles in flight in memory of Bob, a wonderful man whom I had the privilege of working with almost 40 years ago. I only recently found out that he died very suddenly earlier this year. We were the same age but he seemed much wiser than I. He was  a very good, gentle, and caring man, devoted to helping others. He had a great sense of humor.

I think that Bob would like and approve of my special relationship with Eagles and Hawks. When I was upset about not being able to get my pilot's license a few years ago, I saw a Red Tailed Hawk sitting on a utility pole. I was telling a pilot friend of mine about the significance of seeing the Hawk on a day when I was distraught over not being able to get a pilot's license. My pilot friend told me that the Hawk was releasing me into her world. So, when I see an Eagle or a Hawk flying, in a way I am flying with them in their world.

Bob, this is for you. Welcome to the world of the Eagle and the Hawk. May you always fly in favorable tail winds.

RIP my friend.


Direct link to video