2021 NJ wildfire season: large fire in southern New Jersey (March 15th)

March 15, 3:15 PM

Around 3 PM the  the New Jersey Forest Fire Service provided an update that may be found here:

WILDFIRE UPDATE - LAKEWOOD, NJ

As of 9 a.m. today, the Lakewood area wildfire remains at 170 acres. Cold temperatures overnight aided fire suppression efforts. The fire will continue to burn and smolder in interior areas east of the Garden State Parkway, south of Cedar Bridge Avenue and north of Route 70. Patrol activities will continue throughout today. All roadways have been reopened. 

Two mixed-use professional/commercial structures and approximately eight outbuildings were destroyed by the fire. Additional property and improved property were damaged.

Residents in the affected areas are urged to stay away from impacted areas and emergency response activity. Drones of any kind interfere with the fire-fighting effort and are prohibited in the area. All evacuees have been permitted to return home. 

The fire's origin has been identified and the cause is under investigation, though we can state it was not from a prescribed burn as reported inaccurately online.

A New Jersey Forest Fire Service firefighter remains in critical condition at a nearby hospital. (obtained on March 15, 2021 at 3:20 PM from https://www.facebook.com/NJForestFireService/posts/793597087929576)

March 15, 1:15 PM

There are no new updates from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service about progress made this morning fighting the brush fire. Nor are there any updates about the hospitalized firefighter from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. Media outlets (see list below) reporting that 29 residences were damaged. Recall that two commercial buildings were destroyed.

Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today wrote a nice report this morning covering the fire including an eighteen minute video from Jersey Shore Response showing the initial response to the fire with radio feed. You will want to read Bill's article and watch the video.

Some of the recent media coverage of the fire in Lakewood. Note, kudos to New Jersey Advance Media as it was their text alert (I subscribe to one of their papers) that first alerted me to this fire, they have done a nice job covering this fire.

• New Jersey Advance Media (March 15) "Firefighters saved my home"
• News 12 New Jersey (March 15) with video report, photo gallery, and other photos from twitter
• Asbury Park Press (3 free articles then paywall) with video and photo gallery
• ABC6 Philadelphia (March 14 updated on March 15)
• The Daily Voice (Ocean County, March 15) with video that I embedded below

You will see some footage of the SEAT and the helicopter and bucket. See for example: 1:39, 2:58, 3:40 (helo dropping), 5:39 (helo dropping), 6:11 (SEAT dropping), 7:52 (helo). 8:52 (SEAT dropping), 9:19 (SEAT), and 10:36 (helo)

Direct link to 24 minute video from DemonRacer2

March 15, 7:35 AM

I'd like to start with a timely reminder from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, just posted on their Facebook page telling drone operators not to fly over wildfires.

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service would like to remind you, never fly your UAS or Drone near or around a wildfire, no matter how large or small.Your actions may have devastating effects to firefighting aircraft and personnel on the fire. 

If you fly, WE can't!

 

I wrote yesterday about the 162+ acre brush fire burning in Lakewood and Brick NJ. I removed a link to some drone footage out of respect for the firefighters in the air because drones over wildfires can pose safety risks. 

Late last night, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service provided an update (about 11:30 PM)

WILDFIRE UPDATE - LAKEWOOD, NJ - 11:30 P.M.

As of 10:30 p.m. Sunday, the Lakewood area wildfire remains at 170 acres. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service (FFS) will continue suppression, patrol and mop-up operations throughout the night and support from local fire companies will be scaled back throughout Sunday night as containment increases. The origin has been identified and the cause is under investigation, though we can state it was not from a prescribed burn as reported inaccurately online.

Two mixed-use professional/commercial structures were destroyed by the fire. While the wildfire came close to residential areas, no homes were substantially damaged though some ancillary structures such as sheds were impacted. Residents in the affected areas are urged to stay away from impacted areas and emergency response activity. Drones of any kind interfere with the fire-fighting effort and are prohibited in the area. Brick Township residents who were evacuated began returning home at 7:00 p.m. Sunday.

A New Jersey Forest Fire Service firefighter is in critical condition at a nearby hospital.

Road closures and reopenings:

- Garden State Parkway is now reopened. The entrance to Garden State Parkway (north) at Shorrock Street will remain closed until morning re-evaluation.

- Route 528 has reopened

- Route 70 (one westbound lane from Cedar Bridge Ave to the Garden State Parkway will remain closed)

- All other ramps are reopened. 

(obtained at 7:35 AM on March 14, 2021 from a New Jersey Forest Fire Service update on their Facebook page.)

2021 NJ wildfire season: large wildfire in southern NJ (just in)

March 14 10:25 PM

At about 9:30 PM, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service reported:

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Forest Fire Service personnel and equipment are on scene and conducting suppression and backfiring operations in response to a wildfire in the Lakewood area. 

Initial reports indicate the fire is approximately 162 acres in size as of 6:30 p.m on Sunday, March 14. 

Two commercial structures are confirmed to be damaged. 

The wildfire has come close to residential areas, and residents in the Lakewood and Brick Twp. areas are urged to stay away from impacted areas and emergency response activity. (obtained at 10:25 PM on March 14, 2021 from https://www.facebook.com/NJForestFireService/posts/793125181310100

March 14 9 PM

A tweet from Lakewood News Network with some video  shot earlier this afternoon of the brush fire

HAPPENING NOW: Heavy brush fire in Lakewood Industrial Park has caused commercial buildings to go up in flames. Lakewood, state Forest Fire Service and mutual aid is on scene. Nearby businesses have been evacuated. pic.twitter.com/iGYa0vVPGL

— Lakewood News Network (@LakewoodNewsNet) March 14, 2021

 In an update to their earlier report, ABC6 in Philadelphia provided some updates and added a video. One newly added video features Maris Gabliks of the NJ Forest Fire Service who said the fire is at about 40 percent containment, evacuations were in place, structures were damaged, roadways were closed, the fire jumped the Garden State Parkway, two helicopters and a SEAT were working the fire, and one firefighter is injured. 

According to the Asbury Park Press (March 14), Caryn Shinsky from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection says that at 6:30 pm the fire was at 162 acres

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service has posted about the fire on their Facebook page, unfortunately I am unable to link to their post. But as they update their page, I will summarize here.

March 14 5:25 PM

This just in, as I was mucking around with various settings and the like I this blog, I got an alert from NJ Advance Media about a large brush fire near Lakewood in southern New Jersey that has shut down the Garden State Parkway from mile marker 82 to 91. Red flag warnings are up through late Monday afternoon. I believe that the fire was reported somewhere around 1:30 pm this afternoon. Structures are burning. A single-engine air tanker and a helicopter with a bucket are deployed. As of 4 PM today, evacuations are in place in Brick. The New Jersey Advance Media March 14 article may be found here. No size information is available at this time.

ABC6 in Philadelphia (see this March 14th report) is reporting on the fire, see their video below. 

Red Flag Warnings (March 14 - 15, 2021): portions of northeast U.S.

The National Weather Service in Mt. Holly has issued a red flag warning for today, March 14 through late in the afternoon of Monday, March 15th. 

Obtained on March 14, 2021 from https://www.weather.gov/phi/ (weather story)

Red Flag Warnings (red on map) are also up for Maryland, portions of Pennsylvania. Virginia and West Virginia; Connecticut; and Massachusetts.

Obtained on March 14, 2021 from https://www.weather.gov/erh/

2021 NJ wildfire season: two wildfires in northwest New Jersey (March 12 and 13)

The information about the two brush fires that I write about here is possible because of information shared by the North Jersey Wildland Fire Association on March 14. They shared information from the local fire departments who responded which I share below. The Quakertown NJ Fire Company-91 Fire/Rescue responded to a brush fire in Hunterdon County on March 12, one of a few brush fires they have responded to in the last week. On March 13, the IAFF Local 4895 Hillsborough Fire Marshals reported on a 1.5 acre brush fire in Hillsborough, Somerset County NJ.

I always try to give you some options if your browser extensions block the embedded posts. I have been having trouble getting the links to the two fire companies public Facebook posts to work on some of my browsers, I am sorry if this affects you. To that end, I have provided a brief summary of each brush fire in the text. 

I am sure that there were other small wildfires in NJ over the last couple of days, I only know about these two brush fires.

I was out on a drive in rural New Jersey on Friday, March 12 with a friend and saw the response, including a NJFFS truck, to the wildfire below in Franklin Township, Hunterdon County NJ. See this short report from News12NJ, it seems that an arching power wire may have been the cause of this 3 acre wildfire with multiple fire departments and the NJFFS responding. Structure protection was in place, no damage to houses. The post that I embedded below is from the Quakertown NJ Fire Company-91 Fire/Rescue (March 12).

Yesterday, March 13, there was a small brush fire (1.5 acres) in Hillsborough, Somerset County NJ. The brush fire was near some railroad tracks. Multiple local fire departments and the NJFFS responded and the fire was put out. The IAFF Local 4895 Hillsborough Fire Marshals (March 13) shared about this brush fire in a post that I embed below.

2021 wildfire season: update on prescribed burning season in NJ

 Recently, I have been posting about the 2021 prescribed burning season in New Jersey. Weather permitting, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has been conducting prescribed burns in New Jersey. I do not know of any prescribed burns conducted by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service today, March 12th, or yesterday, March 11th. I do know that there has been elevated fire danger (not Red Flag Warnings) yesterday and today. So if indeed there were no prescribed burns on either of these days, elevated fire danger is likely why because of safety considerations. However, I should say, that as I rely on the New Jersey Forest Fire Service's Facebook page for information on prescribed burns, it is likely that there are prescribed burns that I do not know about. As I understand it, prescribed burning season in New Jersey runs through March 15th. In past years when the weather has not cooperated, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) has extended prescribed burning season for a few days. 

In the meantime, I leave you with a couple of videos from the NJFFS Section B10 of past prescribed burns.

Direct link to video from the NJFFS Section B10

Direct link to video from the NJFFS Section B10

2021 wildfire season: prescribed burning in NJ (March 10)

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service continues to conduct prescribed burns in central (Division B) and southern New Jersey (Division C). I do not know of any prescribed burns in northern New Jersey (NJFFS Division A). The information below is obtained from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service's Facebook Page on March 10th.

DIVISION B

Burlington County

- Shamong Township -

Wharton State Forest

- Southampton Township - Private Land

Monmouth County

- Manalapan Township - Monmouth Battlefield State Park Ocean County

- Berkeley Township - County Land

- Little Egg Harbor Township - County Land

DIVISION C

Atlantic County

- Estell Manor City - Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area

- Folsom Borough - Great Egg Harbor River Wildlife Management Area

Cape May County

- Upper Township -

Belleplain State Forest

Camden County

- Winslow Township - Private Land

Cumberland County

- Commercial Township - Bevans WildLife Management Area - Millville Tract

This schedule is weather dependent and subject to change.

2021 wildfire season: prescribed burning in New Jersey (March 8 - 9)

Prescribed burning continues in New Jersey. There have been two recent articles about the 2021 prescribed burning season in New Jersey. First, there is a March 7th article by Bill Gabbert on Wildfire Today, he does his usual good job in reporting as he writes about the prescribed burning season in New Jersey. The second article is dated March 9th on News 12 New Jersey (with video), focusing on a 600 acre prescribed burn in Burlington County NJ.

I want to thank the New Jersey Forest Fire Service for doing such a good job with their prescribed burning program. These prescribed burns help to reduce the risk of wildfires, something I was a New Jersey resident appreciate very much. In past years, I have driven by areas where the New Jersey Forest Fire Service conducted prescribed burns. They always had signage out so drivers knew what was going on.

I got the information on prescribed burns on March 8th and 9th from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service Facebook page  (see the NJFFS March 8th and March 9th posts)

On March 8, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service conducted prescribed burning operations in the following areas:

DIVISION B

Burlington County 

• Washington Township - Wharton State Forest
• Tabernacle Township - Private Land

Ocean County 

• Beachwood Borough - County Land 
• Jackson Township - Forest Resource Education Center
• Lakewood Township - County Land
• Lacey Township - County Land 

DIVISION C

Atlantic County: Galloway Township - Federal Land

Cape May County 

• Dennis Township / Upper Township - Belleplain State Forest
• Upper Township - Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area

Cumberland County: Maurice River Township - Peaslee Wildlife Management Area

Camden County: Waterford Township - Wharton State Forest

This schedule was weather dependent and subject to change.

Today, March 9, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service will be conducting prescribed burning operations in the following areas:

DIVISION B

Burlington County 

• Southampton Township - Bear Swamp at Red Lion Preserve
• Woodland Township - Brendan T Byrne State Forest (Cranberry and Batona Trails CLOSED today)

Monmouth County: Wall Township - Private Land

Ocean County 

• Jackson Township - Private Land
• Plumsted Township - Private Land

DIVISION C

Atlantic County 

• Hamilton Township - County Land
• Port Republic City - Municipal Land

Cumberland County: Fairfield Township - Buckshutem Wildlife Management Area

Salem County: Pittsgrove Township - Parvin State Park

This schedule is weather dependent and subject to change.

wildland firefighters: work capacity tests

Not too long after I began writing this blog on aerial wildland firefighting, I heard about the annual "pack test"  that wildland firefighters must pass before they can work on a wildfire crew fighting wildfires. The Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations (aka the Red Book) has chapter on Firefighter Training and Qualifications (Chapter 13 in the 2021 Red Book) where the pack test is called the "work capacity test. There are three levels of a work capacity tests depending on the job that the firefighter has as shown in this screenshot from The Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations (aka the Red Book), Chapter 13, p. 290)

The Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations (aka the Red Book), Chapter 13, p. 290)

The video that I am sharing with you about the work capacity test is from the National Interagency Fire Center. It is on the long side, over 12 minutes. It goes quickly. You will learn about the different types of Work Capacity Tests (shown in the image above), how fire fighters train for the work capacity test, and how the test is administered.

Direct link to video from National Interagency Fire Center uploaded by Ken Virden

2021 Wildfire Season: Prescribed Burning in New Jersey (Feb 25 through March 5)

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service is a Division of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), The NJ Department of Environmental Protection issued a press release on March 4th, "Forest Fire Prevention Measures Under Way Across New Jersey."  They speak to climate change and the importance of maintaining forests:

As New Jersey’s climate continues to change, forest maintenance, including prescribed burning, takes on even greater importance. New Jersey’s changing climate increases the risk for more frequent and larger wildfires due to longer, hotter periods of dry weather, as described in the first-ever New Jersey Scientific Report on Climate Change, released in 2020. Prescribed burns are carefully planned and managed based on atmospheric conditions and carbon emissions from prescribed burns represent a small fraction of the emissions that could be produced in a wildfire.

“Prescribed burning not only helps protect the lives and property of those who live in or near forested areas, it is also an important part of the state’s carbon defense strategy, protecting carbon stored in forests from wildfire risk,” Acting Commissioner LaTourette said. “By taking careful steps to manage forest health, we can avoid potentially catastrophic releases of carbon from wildfires that, due to climate change, are routinely destroying communities and ecosystems while increasing harmful emissions.” 

The March 4th DEP press release discusses some cooperative prescribed burns in northern New Jersey, finishing with prescribed burn statistics from 2020: 

Wildfires can have the greatest benefit in areas where people live in or near forests, grasslands and other natural areas. …

For example, this year, the Forest Fire Service will do a cooperative burn on approximately 200 acres in Mansfield Township, Warren County. The area includes part of the Pequest Wildlife Management Area and an adjacent private landowner’s property, with assistance from the Wildlife Management Institute and a Delaware River Watershed Initiative Grant.  

In addition, the First Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hunterdon County, in Kingwood Township, has asked the Forest Fire Service to do a controlled burn in a 9.5-acre field on its property. The burn will be conducted as part of a native grassland/wildlife habitat restoration project undertaken by the church on their property with assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service. 

In 2020, the Forest Fire Service completed controlled burns on 18,854 acres of state-owned lands, 5,006 acres of other government-owned land and 2,268 acres of privately owned property, for a total of 26,128 acres.

The recent snows in New Jersey cut into the New Jersey Forest Fire Service's prescribed burning for most of February. Snow is still lingering in northern New Jersey. I know, because I am still seeing snow in my yard and environs, where melted it is wet and muddy. I recently saw on the New Jersey Forest Fire Service's Facebook page of the resumption of prescribed burning in central and southern New Jersey starting on February 25th. I know enough to know that this means that snow is not a factor in those portions of New Jersey where the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has been conducting prescribed burning in central and southern New Jersey. Here is a list of prescribed burns in central and southern New Jersey since February 25th. I do not know of any prescribed done in northern New Jersey.

February 25

Burlington County 

• Woodland Twp - Franklin Parker Preserve

Ocean County 

• Little Egg Harbor Twp - Stafford Forge Wildlife Management Area

February 26

Burlington County 

• Woodland Twp - Barnegat Rd

Ocean County 

• Eagleswood - Stafford Forge Wildlife Management Area
• Lacey - Double Trouble State Park

Cape May 

• Upper Twp - Pesalee Wildlife Management Area 

Cumberland County 

• Commercial Twp - Millville Wildlife Management Area 
• Maurice River - Peaslee Wildlife Management Area 

March 3

Ocean County

• Lacey / Barnegat / Manchester - Greenwood Wildlife Management Area
• Jackson - Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area

March 4

DIVISION B

Burlington County 

• Medford Township - Private Land 
• Washington Township - Wharton State Forest

Ocean County

• Lacey Township - Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area
• Lacey Township - County Land
• Manchester Township - Manchester Wildlife Management Area
• Manchester Township -Brendan T Byrne State Forest
• Manchester Township - Manchester Wildlife Management Area
• Stafford Township - Private Land 

DIVISION C

• Commercial Township - Bevans Wildlife Management Area
• Winslow Township / Monroe Township - Winslow Wildlife Management Area

March 5

DIVISION B

Burlington County 

• Washington Township -Wharton State Forest
• Manchester Township / Woodland Township -Brendan T Byrne State Forest

Ocean County

• Berkeley Township - County Land 
• Little Egg Harbor Township -Bass River State Forest

DIVISION C 

Cape May County 

• Middle Township - Federal Land

Aerial Firefighting Training: CAL FIRE helicopters

I know enough about aviation to know that it is important that any pilot go through their mandated recurrency training that depending on the type of pilot license they have the FAA requires annual or semi-annual training in the specific aircraft they fly. In the world of aerial firefighting this means two things. One is that each year they have to go through FAA mandated recurrency training for the specific aircraft that they will be flying. Once the pilot has completed their annual aircraft specific recurrency training they go through recurrency training mandated by the agency contract to fly fires. I know from reading old federal tanker contracts that this training to fly fires involves getting what is known as an initial attack card. A new pilot goes through an involved and detailed training period before they get their initial attack card. This initial attack card allows the pilot to fly a fire without air attack or a lead plane. Each year the pilots flying firefighting aircraft on contract with an agency have to renew their initial attack card which involves making some water drops. 

I just came across a video from 2015 from Rotorcraft Pro of CAL FIRE's helicopter training and preparation. To read more about CAL FIRE's aviation program go here.  At the time of this video CAL FIRE was flying Bell UH-1H Super Huey helicopters. CAL FIRE is in the process or has already upgraded all of their helicopter fleet to Sikorsky S70i helicopters (CAL FIRE Hawk) This video may be somewhat dated as it is specific to the Super Huey's they were flying in 2015, but I think that some of the training topics and exercises have applications, with appropriate reworking and modification, for the CAL FIRE Hawk as well as other aerial firefighting aircraft. I suspect that this video discusses both the FAA mandated annual recurrency training for the helicopter as well as training to renew their initial attack card. Enjoy

Direct link to video from Justhelicopters 

Reflections on wildland firefighting training

I am working on a still developing series of articles looking at how wildland firefighters protect themselves while working a fire, the gear and tools they carry, safety concerns, training, etc. See my recent posts on PPE on an engine crew, the line pack, and hand tools.

What got me started in writing this series is knowing that in many parts of the U.S., it is the time of year where wildland firefighters on the ground and in the air go through their spring training. My regular readers know that I have not know nor have I ever been any kind of firefighter, wildland or structure. So, I can not speak from any kind of personal experience. But I have been doing this blog long enough that training in the classroom and passing physical tests is not just a once and done deal. As I understand, every wildland agency -- federal, state, and local -- have annual recurrency training. The National Wildfire Coordinating Group has information on Wildfire Safety Annual Refresher Training (WFSTAR) that is used by Federal Agencies. This year's Refresher Training (2021) is being done virtually. As I understand it, The Wildfire Safety Annual Refresher Training is also known as RT-130. The requirements for the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, the National Park Service and RT-130 are found in the Interagency Standards for Fire and Aviation Operations (Red Book), Chapter13. I believe that many state and local wildfire agencies may use a variation of WFSTAR, RT-130 for their refresher training.

My point in this post is to say that I respect the hard work and the sacrifices made by wildland firefighters on the ground and in the air. I can appreciate the need for annual classroom work, field exercises, and physical tests including but not limited to running and carrying a loaded pack on a timed course. Wildland firefighting is physically demanding work so the need to pass physical tests each year is important. Likewise, the classroom work and any field exercises are important as a means of reviewing and reinforcing knowledge as well as learning new fire science and perhaps to be advised of local conditions that may affect local and state wildland firefighters.

I am sorry that I do not have a video to show you at this time. I have looked around and need to keep looking. If I find one that seems appropriate, I will revise this post.

In the meantime, my wish and prayers for all wildland firefighters is to stay safe and know that I appreciate all that you do to keep us safe. Please know that I have a great deal of respect for all wildland firefighters, and it is my intention to try to honor you in writing this blog. 

Arizona Nat Guard Blackhawks: training exercises

Every so often I share a video show casing firefighting helicopters in memory of my friend Matt. Matt loved everything about helicopters. He died too young a few years ago and I miss him. Matt was not a pilot, but I know that he is flying in favorable winds. I remember Matt for being a good friend and his love of helicopters. I learned a lot from him about helicopters.

Matt, this video uploaded Airrailimages of Arizona National Guard Firehawks in training (February 2021) is shared in your memory. The National Guard pilots are working with Arizona firefighters in these training exercises, be sure to go to the "about this video description in the link below the video to read more about these training exercises.

Direct link to video uploaded by Airrailimages

Wildland firefighters: brief look at handtools

I wanted to take a look at some of the handtools that wildland firefighters use when building line or in mop up afterwards. I found this nice short video, courtesy of the West Metro Fire Department of Lakewood Colorado, where a few of the more common handtools are introduced: the Pulaski, McLeod, Combi Tool, Hoe, and Shovel. While I have seen references to these tools over the years that I have been doing this blog, the cavaet is that these are the tools used by the West Metro Fire Department. Wildland firefighters in your area may use some of these tools or use different tools. 

Direct link to video by West Metro Fire Department

Wildland firefighters: a look at one firefighter's "line pack"

I was shared a video on February 17th about what one engine crew carried in 2014 when his engine was deployed to work a fire. I got curious about what a wildland firefighter on a hand crew (with possibly longer deployments) might carry. While I am not wildland firefighter, I know enough to know that there are certain gear that most wildland firefighters on a hand crew will carry in the pack they take with them on the line(water, first aid kit, extra batteries, fire shelter to name a few). I believe that this pack is called a "line pack." Of course, each crew is responsible for taking items that they will need on the line such as prescription medications, vitamins and supplements, personal hygiene items, snacks, etc. 

I want to be clear, I am curious and am taking you along on my journey. Nothing more, nothing less. I have watched a few videos, each is different. I chose this one to share because it is short and to the point. This is what one wildland firefighter from the Bureau of Land Management in the Pacific Northwest put in his line pack in 2013.

Direct link to video from BLM Oregon

Friday Fun: Superbowl Flyover

As a football and an aviation fan, I got a rare treat this past Superbowl Sunday, I got to see a rare flyover by three Airforce bombers: B-2 Spirit, B-1B Lancer, and a B-52 Stratofortress.

In the first video, you will meet some of the crew involved in this flyover and hear from Captain Sarah Kocluba who will lead the flyover in her B-2 Spirit. I only found out after the fact that Captian Kocluba was leading the flyover. So nice to see more women in military aviation.

Direct link to video uploaded by aviatrix99

This is a video showing the singing of the Star Spangled Banner with the Flyover. 

Direct link to video uploaded by Military Aviation TV

Wildland firefighters: PPE for an engine crew

Knowing that in many parts of the United States crews are starting to do their annual refresher training, I thought that I'd spend sometime (with the help of videos) looking at the gear they carry, a little about their annual refresher training, and other safety concerns. 

I spent some time looking at some videos about the gear that wildland firefighters carry and I liked this two part video (2014) by WranglerStar about the gear he carried while driving an engine. I liked this because he explained the reasoning behind the gear, and he is easy to listen to. Allow about ten minutes minutes for each video. It is a little long, but the time passed quickly and I learned. 

Direct link to video (part 1) by WranglerStar

Direct link to video (part 2) by WranglerStar

Coulson Aviation: Scenes from Chile

 I have recently been writing about Coulson Aviation's operations in Chile (February 10th and February 12th), today I will wrap up this short series about Coulson's operations in Chile by sharing some of Coulson's Facebook posts. They are also posting about their operations in Australia. If you have difficulty with the embedded posts or you prefer not to disable any tracking extensions, I hope that the direct link below each of the embedded posts will work, depending on your browser it may not work, I am sorry if that is the case.

Direct link to post on Facebook

Direct link to post on Facebook

Direct link to post on Facebook

Direct link to post on Facebook

Coulson Aviation: Night Vision Goggles

 I wrote about Coulson's operations in Chile the other day including their use of night vision goggles for their night aerial fire suppression operations. Coulson has a very nice Facebook Page (here)where they make good use of social media to share about the Air Tankers, Helicopters, Helitankers and supporting aircraft deployed to help the crews on the ground fight wildfires. At this time of year they are working in Australia and Chile. I saw a nice post on their NVG (night vision goggle) fire operations in Australia and California, and now in  Chile. I want to share their post with you.  If you do not have a Facebook account and want to see the entire post, this link should take your directly to the post with the need to log into Facebook.

2021 wildfire season: Coulson in Chile

When I got interested in the current wildfire season in Chile, thanks to Mike Archer's reporting on wildfires around the world in his Wildfire News of the Day emails (go here to subscribe), I knew from Coulson's Facebook page and Bill Gabbert's Dec 13, 2020 article that Coulson Aviation had aircraft under contract in Chile. I wondered about other firefighting aircraft that might be working in Chile. From reading some news reports of wildfires in Chile, I think but am not certain that SEATs and smaller helicopters fly fires in Chile in support of firefighters on the ground. Unfortunately, the best link that I had is no longer active, so I am not in a position to say anything substantial about other aircraft that might be flying fires in Chile. But I do know that Coulson is in Chile so I will focus on Coulson's operations in Chile here.

I was recently in contact with someone from Coulson who confirmed to me that Coulson has four CH47D Chinook helitankers and one UH60 Blackhawk currently under contract in Chile (for more information on these helitankers see Coulson-Unical and Coulson's Facebook page. I wrote about Coulson's CH47 helitankers and Blackhawks in May 2020, sharing a nice 2019 video where Britt Coulson discusses these helitankers and a link to an article in Vertical Magazine about the Chinook. Shortly after my recent correspondence with Coulson, I saw this February 9th news release from Coulson with more information about their operations in Chile. I also understand both from my correspondent from Coulson and the aforementioned news release that night operations in Chile will be conducted this year. I am sure that these night operations, even if under a trial period, will be an important weapon in Coulson's aerial firefighting arsenal in Chile.

When I was perusing the Coulson Aviation in Australia webpage yesterday, I saw a video report shared on their Youtube Channel from an Australian news outlet on a trial conducted in Australia last year to test Coulson's night aerial fire suppression capabilities. The report is not talking about operations in Australia, they make no mention of Chile, I do not know the result of this trial, and I am not certain which of Coulson's helitankers and/or Blackhawks have the necessary night flying technology installed. However, with those caveats in mind. this report gave me an idea about how Coulson's night aerial fire suppression operations might work. Enjoy!

(updated and corrected on February 11, 2021) I want to thank my correspondent at Coulson Aviation for taking the time to provide me with some corrections regarding Coulson's night aerial fire suppression operations. Coulson has been doing night aerial fire suppression operations in California for awhile now, most recently in 2020 using Chinooks. About four or five years ago Coulson did a trial using night vision goggles in Victoria, Australia. That trial was successful and since then, Coulson has been using Sikorsky's for night aerial fire suppression operations in and around Victoria, Australia. This will be the first year that night vision goggles will be used by Coulson in Chile. When I was perusing the Coulson Aviation in Australia webpage yesterday, I saw a video report shared by Coulson on their Youtube Channel about the night vision goggle trial in Victoria Australia that was done four or five years ago . This video report gave me an idea of how Coulson's night aerial fire suppression operations work in Chile. 

A look at the Global Supertanker T-944

In the "so what else is new category" we had a few inches of snow yesterday with more unsettled weather forecast for this week. I do have help with driveway plowing and shoveling, for that I am eternally very grateful, they are the salt of the earth and take good care of us in the winter and doing the lawn and other landscaping in the warm season. Still, there is shoveling that I do, so I did some earlier this morning and again this afternoon and will a little more this evening. Then there is the more mundane activity of going to the super market for my curbside grocery order. 

At times like this, I am glad that I have some airtanker videos saved so I perused what I had to find something interesting to share today and came up with a couple of videos about the Global Supertanker 747 T-944. According the Supertanker's technology overview she can drop 19,200 gallons at a drop height of 200 to 300 feet at a drop speed of 150 knots. Those of you who are interested in more details about the Supertanker will want to take a little time to look at the Supertanker's technology overview. Other information about her mission profile, a drop comparison chart the aforementioned  technology overview, and a short video where you may see her tank system up close and personal may be found on Global Supertanker's Technology page. Through 2020, she has flown missions in Israel, Chile, Bolivia, California, and Oregon. I am not quite sure where she is now.

Enjoy the videos.

Direct link to video uploaded by Simple Flying

Direct link to video uploaded from Airboyd

Friday Fun: Military Airplanes Flyovers Compiliation

Time for more Friday Fun, with an aviation focus. Enjoy this compilation of military aircraft flyovers from Argunners Magazine. You will see: Spitfires, B-17s, P-51s, T-6 Texans in formation, C-47s, F4U, and an XP-82 Twin Mustangs. Allow a little over 7 minutes to view this compilation.

Direct link to video from Argunners Magazine

Reflections after a nor'easter and kudos to NWS Mt. Holly

I dedicate this today's blog article to the NWS Weather Forecast Office at Philadelphia/Mt. Holly, NJ (NWS Mt. Holly) for taking very good care of us who live in your forecast area during a nor'easter that lasted over two days. The short video that I share below speaks to my profound gratitude for what the National Weather Service does to take care of us.

Direct link to video from the National Weather Service

Every so often I take a time-out to acknowledge and reflect on recent severe weather that impacted my area. I do so today after a winter nor'easter (neat graphic from NWS Mt. Holly) that lasted a couple days here in New Jersey and environs, dumping as much as 30 inches in parts of New Jersey. NWS Mt. Holly posted an annotated satellite image of this storm here. I was lucky, under 18 inches and I am dug and plowed out, thanks to my wonderful plow guys who take good care of me. In case you are wondering, there was enough shoveling to go around, so I did some. While I did not exactly play in the snow, I accidentally rolled around in the snow. 

I am not a Meteorologist, but I know enough that forecasting winter weather poses challenges, even for the experts. Note the short video, again from the National Weather Service, on winter weather forecasting uncertainty.

Direct link to video from the National Weather Service

I am a volunteer, known as a sky warn spotter, for the NWS Mt. Holly. I went through a training course to be a spotter, and get recurrent training every three years. My primary task in the winter is to take snow fall measurements and report my measurements to NWS Mt. Holly. So, I was out in the storm every six hours, except at night, taking measurements off of my snow board (flagged so I can find it), cleaning the board off, and reporting the totals to NWS Mt. Holly. It is my great honor to be able to do this to help them out. Normally, I use two snow boards, but I decided that the trek out to my second board would be too much in that much snow, so that snow board remains buried in my back yard.

To my friends at NWS Mt. Holly, I can only imagine how hard you worked to provide us in your forecast area the best possible forecasts, with updates to the forecast to reflect changes. This was a long duration storm, over two days. I knew what to expect, fortunately, all in my household are working from home because of the pandemic. In addition to your work keeping up to date on what the nor'easter was doing, you answered phone calls from the public, press, and skywarn spotters. When I called in with my reports, you are always kind and patient. Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you. I am no longer a member of team snow, but snow is what it is and I have been living in the northeast my whole life. Nor'easters like this happen. I knew the worse case scenario, and when that scenario happened you took care of us and used your social media platforms to keep us up to date.

2021 wildfire season: prescribed burning in Florida

 It is prescribed burning season here in New Jersey, except we are getting a major winter storm as I write this which means that there will be no prescribed burns for awhile in many parts of the State. But prescribed burns are occurring in other parts of the United States. A wildland firefighter friend of mine shared a video with me on how prescribed burns are done in Florida State Parks, focusing on Hillsborough River State Park in Hillsborough County Florida, east of Tampa. See the image from Google Earth for the general location of this park.

The video, uploaded by Val H., is under seven minutes. The video focuses on how prescribed burns are done in Florida State Parks, specifically, Hillsborough River State Park. While the specifics of exactly how prescribed burns may differ from prescribed burns in your area, you will get an overview of how prescribed burns are done. Please take a few minutes to watch this video. Thank-you.

Direct link to video uploaded by Val H

Friday Fun: Blue Angels - early 2021 edition

 It is time for some Friday fun. I found a couple of short videos featuring the US Navy Blue Angels. The first video highlights the end of their 2020 season. In the second video you will learn about the upcoming transition from Legacy Hornets to Super Hornets.

Direct link to video uploaded by Blue Angels Association

Direct link to video from Boeing

2021 wildfire season: Argentina, Patagonia Mountains (El Bolson)

I have recently been reflecting on the knowledge that in the southern hemisphere it is high summer and with that wildfire season. I immediately turned to Mike Archer's wonderful five day a week e-mail newsletter, Wildfire News of the Day,  if you are so inclined, and I would recommend subscribing, you may go here to subscribe. Mike includes international wildfire news, so I have easy access to some media reports. I have been thinking about South America, so this seemed like a good place to start. Just today, he reported on a large fire that soon burned approximately10,000 hectares (27,415 acres) near the town of El Bolson in the Patagonia Mountains was apparently started by accident as a result of an outdoor neighborhood barbecue on Sunday, January 24th. According the article (in Spanish) included in today's Wildfire News of the Day, Clarin (January 27th), this is the largest wildfire of record in the region. Note that I do not speak Spanish, so I rely on Google Translate for a Spanish to English translation. I found a short video which, according to the about page, seems to be footage of this fire near El Bolson. The video below appears to be from a media outlet, El Trece, in Argentina. While the video is in spanish, there is good fire footage so I thought it would be a good video to share with you. At about 1 minute 40 seconds you will see what appears to be an Air Tractor SEAT making a drop.

Direct link to video on Youtube (January 26th) from El Trece

2021 wildfire season: prescribed burning in New Jersey (Jan. 25th)

Prescribed burning season continues in New Jersey with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service conducting prescribed burns on January 22nd and January 24 in the following areas:

JANUARY 22nd

• Division B (Central New Jersey)
• Burlington County
• Woodland Twp - Brendan T Byrne State Forest
• Shamong Twp - Wharton State Forest (Hampton Furnace)
• Washington Twp - Wharton State Forest (Godfrey’s Bridge section)
• Tabernacle Twp - Wharton State Forest (Batona Field)
• Middlesex County
• South Brunswick - Pigeon Swamp State Park
• Monmouth County
• Wall Twp - Allaire State Park
• Ocean County
• Little Egg Harbor Twp - Nuggentown Rd
• Division C (Southern New Jersey)
• Atlantic County
• Estell Manor - Atlantic County Park
• Camden County
• Winslow - Albertson Rd
• Cape May County
• Middle Twp - Reeds Beach Rd

JANUARY 24th

• Division B (Central New Jersey) 
• Monmouth County, Wall - Allaire State Park

Some of you may not be familiar with NJ geography, so I got a screen shot of a map of New Jersey from the NJ Department of State and a listing of NJ Forest Fire Service Divisions by County from the NJ Forest Fire Service Fire Danger & Restrictions page. This is somewhat crude, but I hope it helps to provide a geographic context.

Screen shot of this map obtained from the NJ Department of State on January 25, 2021. Listings of NJ Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) Divisions by county obtained on January 25, 2021 from https://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/fire/firedanger-restrictions.htm

2021 wildfire season: Chile, Valpariso region

Thanks in part to Mike Archers, Wildfire News of the Day Email Newsletter (subscribe here), I can read about wildfires occurring outside of the United States. I have recently been thinking of South America because I know that it is summer in that part of the world. As I have read summaries of wildfires in South America over the last few days, I knew that I wanted to do at least one blog post about a wildfire in South America. Ideally I wanted a video to share as well because I do believe that a video can be worth a thousand words, thanks to my friends at the NJ Forest Fire Service Section B10 who maintain a video of the week page, I found a nice short video dated on or about January 15th about a wildfire in the Valpraiso region of Chile, near Quilpue City. Thanks to Google Earth, and the information from the about page of the video that I will embed below I was able to save an image so you can get an idea of where the Valpraiso region is, on the west coast of Chile along with image showing most of Chile (Quilpue is the red marker).

Direct link to January 15th 2021 video from Global News News (with English subtitles)

Mike Archer included a summary with link to an article from dw dot com (in Chile??), the article is in Spanish. Unfortunately, I do not know Spanish but with the help of Google translate, I was able to get what I think are some pertinent facts about this wildfire in the Valparios region of Chile. The article in Spanish is dated January 16th and may be found here. I take responsibility for any errors in facts.

This summer Chile is experiencing the worst drought in six decades, so conditions are ripe for wildfires. The fire began as one of four starts on Thursday, January 14th occurring at about the same time. I believe that two of these fires were controlled by January 16th with the remaining two merging into one fire. As of January 16th, 4,200 hectares (approximately 10,378 acres) had burned. Evacuations orders affecting 25,000 residents were in place. At least six homes were destroyed. Last weekend 22 helicopters and 8 tankers were working the fire in support of wildland fire crews on the ground. 

I did an internet search prior to writing this article and so far, I do not have any current news of this fire so I can not provide an update. I am sorry. If I find any later news, I will provide an update here. I had originally embedded another longer video, that video is no longer available but I did find the shorter video that I embedded here.

2021 wildfire season: prescribed burning in New Jersey (1/20/2021)

 Prescribed burning season in New Jersey continues. Yesterday, January 20th, Division B of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service conducted two prescribed burns in Burlington County, NJ

• Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, Woodland Twp.
• Wharton State Forest, Washington Twp.

I prepared the image below from Google Earth showing the approximate locations of the two prescribed burns. Both are in or near the New Jersey Pinelands (sometimes referred to as the NJ Pine Barrens).

2020 wildfire season: summary from US NWS Incident Meteorologists

California has started off 2021 with red flag warnings and high fire danger starting on or about January 14th and continuing through on or about January 19th. I sincerely hope that this is not a sign of another devastating wildfire season in the U.S. The US National Weather Service Incident Meteorologist posted a nice graphic summary of the devastating 2020 wildfire season in a January 8th post. I share this with you below.

In Honor of Martin Luther King

Today we honor Martin Luther King, whose legacy of working towards freedom and equality for all has had an impact on me. It is also a day to think of service to others. So I want to honor today all the wildland firefighters on the ground and in the air as well as all who provide support for your service to us and the sacrifices you make so that we may be safe.

The post that I have embedded below is from the National Interagency Fire Center's Facebook Page (go here for direct link). I'd like to make a special shout out to the North Jersey Wildland Fire Association for pointing me to the NIFC post. If you do not see the Facebook Post below, it is because your tracking program or ad blocker is blocking the link. 

2020 wildfire season: Baker River Hotshots 2020 crew video

Enjoy this 2020 crew video from the Baker River Hotshots.

Direct link to video on Youtube 

2021 wildfire season: prescribed burning under way in New Jersey

With the attention that the need for prescribed burning in other areas of the United States, I am proud that the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has been conducting prescribed burning for over eighty years. 

The 2021 prescribed burning season is underway in New Jersey. The NJ Forest Fire Services describes prescribed burning on their prescribed burning webpage:

... a prescribed burn is: "the skillful application of fire under exacting conditions of weather and fuel in a predetermined area, for a specific purpose to achieve specific results."

Since 1928, the Fire Service has used fire as a tool to protect the lives and property of our residents living near the forestlands of New Jersey. We do this by setting fires under exacting conditions to reduce the underbrush (the "fuel" for a fire), in areas that are prone to fire, or that may be located in a position where we feel we can defend against an oncoming wildfire. The use of fire in this way requires a level of skill and competence that we encourage through extensive, ongoing training.

The primary purpose of prescribed burning in New Jersey is to reduce the hazardous accumulations of forest fuels. This aids in the prevention of wildfires, reduces the intensity of the fires, and also provides a foundation for safer, more effective fire suppression and protection operations.

There is more about the New Jersey Forest Fire Service’s prescribed burning program in this NJ DEP April 2019 press release 

Thanks to a friend as well as the NJ Forest Fire Service’s Facebook posts (see their January 9th post on Facebook), I know about prescribed burns that were undertaken (weather permitting) on January 9th and 10th:

Division B

• Monmouth County, Manalapan, Monmouth Battlefield State Park
• Ocean County
• Berkeley, Double Trouble State Park
• Berkley, RJ Miller Air Par
• Stafford, Stafford Ridge WMA
• Woodland, Brendan T. Byrne State Forest; Pasadena WMA

On January 13th (see the January 13th NJ Forest Fire Service FB Post): prescribed burning is being conducted (weather dependent) as follows:

• Division A: Somerset County, Franklin Twp, John Clyde Preserve
• Division B: Burlington County, Washington Twp, Warton State Forest, Batsto Section: Burlington County, Washington Twp, Warton State Forest, Batsto Section

More on Discovery Channel's CAL Fire series

 I wrote last week about Discovery Channel's CAL Fire Series, see my January 6th post. I had not had a chance to watch the episode 1 "Sacrifice."Actually, I have watched the first episode twice, thanks to Discovery On Demand and recorded episode 2, "A Devil Comin' At You." Discovery is air the short lived CAL Fire series on Sunday nights at 10 PM. So far I know of three episodes. You should (I hope) be able to watch these episodes for free at the Discovery Channel CAL Fire watch now page. I have no idea how long Discovery will make these episodes available on their web site. Some of you may be interested in the review that Bill Gabbert, who was a wildland firefighter for 30 years, had to say about episode 1, his review may be found on this January 4th post on Wildfire Today.

I approached watching Discovery's CAL Fire series as a chance to watch and learn about how CAL Fire has fought some of the wildfires from the devastating 2020 wildfire season. As I understand it, Discovery imbedded some reporters with hi tech cameras for three months with CAL Fire companies as they fought wildfires. They also captured some off duty moments such as training, and preparing and cooking meals. But much of the focus is on the wildfires. Through these two episodes you hear firefighters talking fighting wildfires, the sacrifices they make and their love of the job. There is some discussion about the strategies they use to fight specific wildfires and the wildfires themselves. 

In episode 1, "Sacrifice", footage of engine companies fighting the Apple Fire (Riverside County) and the Ponderosa Fire (Shasta Fire). I won't get into details about these two fires as they are referred to in the episode. In episode 2, "A Devil Comin' At You" a different CAL Fire is showcased, fighting the River and the Carmel Fires in northern California, I believe but am not sure that both burned in Monterey County.  I am not sure, but I believe that I saw a NWS Incident Meteorologist give a weather briefing about a dry lightning forecast on the River and Carmel fires. Throughout each of these two episodes, I saw tankers and helicopters working the wildfires in support of the firefighters on the ground.

As I watched these two episodes, I reminded myself that I am looking at how CAL Fire fights wildfires with a focus on the 2020 wildfire season. While I believe that some of the basics of wildland firefighting may be the same, i.e. cutting line, felling trees, dozers, and aerial support (if available); what other state firefighting agencies and federal wildfire crews (US Forest Service, BLM, etc.) do will be different (size of wildfires, weather, topography, fuel types, etc.).

2020 widlfire season: Glass Fire (CA)

The Glass Fire burned 67,484 acres in September and October 2020 in Napa Valley California destroying 1,555 structures and damaging another 285.

Enjoy this footage (about 30 minutes) of the aerial attack on the Glass Fire, you will hear some radio communications in the backgroumd. If you don't have 30 minutes to spare, watch for a few minutes.

Among the tankers you will see are (not in order as shown on the video) DC-10 (10 Tanker), P-3 (Air Strike), S2-T (Cal Fire), MAFFs C-130, and Global Super Tanker 944 (747).

January 15, 2021: Opps, in reviewing my posts over the last couple of months I just realized that I shared this same video on December 7, 2020. Oh well. 

Direct link to video on Youtube

2020 wildfire season: IMETs fire season and CAL Fire series

I have been watching Discovery Channel's short series on CAL FIRE this afternoon, but am not yet finished with what I can watch at this time. A couple of friends who are or were wildland firefighters recommended that I watch this series. Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today was a wildland firefighter  for about 30 years, he has a review on his website. Unfortunately, I forgot to record the episode that aired on the Discovery Channel on Sunday, January 3rd, I am hoping that I will be able to watch this episode. At this time, I can say that I am enjoying the clips that I have seen, after all writing about aerial wildland firefighting and related concerns is what I do. I hope to have more to say this later this week or early next week

In the meantime when I logged onto Facebook I got a notification that that the NWS IMETs (Incident Meteorologists) made a post summarizing their year, their number of missions are not different from what they shared earlier in December 2020, 188 missions in 2020 (see my December 14th post). It was their fourth busiest season. As I have been reflecting on the devastating 2020 wildfire season it is only fitting to share this end of year summary from the NWS IMETs on their 2020 season with some additional numbers. You did good work providing timely forecasts to the wildfires you worked on, working hard to be sure that the firefighters had the best forecast possible. Thank-you from the bottom of my heart for your service. IMETs save lives. If your ad blocking or tracking extension don't allow you to see this embedded post and you prefer not to disable your settings, you may find the NWS IMET Office's facebook summarizing their 2020 fire season here.

Jamuary 7. 2021: I was preoccupied yesterday afternoon, making this post quickly. I have gone in and made some revisions, adding some details.