videos of airtankers and a chinook

I don't have to tell you that the 2022 wildfire season is well under way in many parts of the United States, e.g. New Mexico (see Bill Gabbert's May 20th article on Wildfire Today) and Texas (see Bill Gabbert's May 21st article on Wildfire Today). I am sure that many of you have seen various images of airtankers, helicopters and chinooks on social media and news outlets. As I am not in a position at the moment to share reliable information on tankers, helicopters and chinooks on contract, I wanted to do something to acknowledge the important work that they do to support wildland firefighters on the ground, so I am sharing three videos with you.

The first video is a five minute video showcasing Aeroflite's CL-415 Scoopers uploaded by Michael Redwine.

direct link to video on YouTube from Michael Redwine

Here is a short clip of Aeroflite's tanker 160 (RJ85) working a wildfire from Randy Joanson

direct link to video on YouTube from Randy Joanson

And finally a nice 5-minute video of Coulson's Chinooks working wildfires. 

direct link to video on YouTube from Coulson Aviation

2022 wildfire season: NWS Incident Meteorologist (IMET) deployments (May 17-23)

I will periodically through the 2022 wildfire season post deployments of NWS Incident Meteorologists. IMETs are usually deployed for a two week period, bringing their equipment with them. On larger fires there may be more than one IMET deployed to a fire. IMET trainees are also deployed to fires to work with an IMET.  For more information on the important work that IMETs do please see the links in my April 25th post.

Today I am sharing IMET deployments from May 17 through May 23rd. To the best of my knowledge there were no deployments on May 18th and 22nd. I had to redo half of the links, the links are to NWS IMET Operation's twitter account and as applicable Inciweb for fire information (at the time I wrote this blog entry). To the best of my knowledge access to the IMET Operations on Twitter does not require a Twitter account. I have checked the links prior to updating this post, any errors are my responsibility.

In addition to focusing on the important work that IMETs are doing to help save lives, the fires that IMETs are working on represent some of the then current wildfires burning in the United States. These fires are but a small percentage of all the wildfires burning in the United States at the time I am making this post.

May 17th deployments

• US NWS Little Rock Arkansas IMET deployed to 2022 Initial Attack Texas A&M Forest Service Support near College Station, Texas
• US NWS Riverton Wyoming IMET deployed to the Calf Canyon Fire (311,166 acres) near Las Vegas, Nevada
• US NWS Sacramento California IMET Trainee deployed to the Calf Canyon Fire (311,166 acres) near Las Vegas, Nevada
• US NWS Grand Junction Colorado IMET deployed to the Plumtaw Fire (721 acres) located near Pagos Springs, Colorado

May 19th deployment

• US NWS Columbia South Carolina IMET deployed to the Calf Canyon Fire (311,166 acres) near Las Vegas, Nevada

May 20th deployments

• US NWS Grand Junction Colorado IMET deployed to the Simms Fire (373 acres) near Montrose, Colorado
• US NWS Midland Texas IMET deployed to the Mesquite Heat Fire (11,256 acres) located near Abilene, Texas

May 21st deployment

• US NWS Denver/Boulder Colorado IMET deployed to the Calf Canyon Fire (311,166 acres) near Las Vegas Nevada

May 23rd deployment

• US NWS Lubbock Texas IMET Trainee onsite at the Mesquite Heat Fire (11,256 acres) located near Abilene, Texas

Friday Fun: New Jersey Pine Barrens

Time for some Friday Fun. Enjoy these two videos from NJ advance media of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. In the first video you will get a tour of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. The second video shows scenes from Wharton State Forest located in the Pine Barrens

Direct link to video from NJ Advance Media on YouTube

Direct link to video from NJ Advance Media on YouTube

2022 wildfire season: Bemis Fire - White Mountains (Crawford Notch) NH

I spent summer vacations in northeastern Vermont for years and we would drive to the White Mountains in New Hampshire at least every other year, if not every year. While I am not intimately familiar with Crawford Notch, I have driven down Route 302 through Crawford Notch, a beautiful drive. I have not hiked in Crawford Notch but have taken a couple of hikes up half-way up Mt. Washington from Pinkham Notch. That was 25 to 30 years ago when I was younger and with healthier knees. 

When I first heard about the Bemis Fire in Crawford Notch late last weekend, I took notice. The Bemis Fire was first reported on Saturday, May 14. What was believed to be one fire is in fact three fires, It has burned approximately 106 acres. See this article from The Union Leader (May 17th).

Obtained on May 19, 2022 from https://www.facebook.com/WhiteMountainNF/posts/383119587189061

Here is an update, dated May 18th, from the White Mountain National Forest. No structures are threatened. The fire is at approximately 45 percent containment in a steep and rugged area. Winds are gusting to 38 mph today, rain is forecast for tomorrow.

Thank-you firefighters, stay safe.

NJ fire history: Warren Grove Fire (May 15, 2007)

 I did not begin to explore write\ing about wildfires on this blog until the fall of 2018, but did not begin to focus on writing about aerial wildland firefighting and related issues until early 2009. I write today's post in remembrance of the 2007 Warren Grove Fire on May 15, 2007 that burned over 17,000 acres (19 square miles) in the New Jersey Pinebarrens. I have to be honest and am somewhat embarrassed to say that the Warren Grove Fire may have escaped my attention at the time because I was getting ready for a trip to Africa. I am not exactly an international traveler, so getting ready for this trip was a pretty big deal for me. However, I have driven by some of the areas burned in the Warren Grove Fire in following years and am struck by the post-fire regeneration in the Pine Barrens. What I recall as the remnants of burned pygmy pines are now replaced by pygmy pines, other pines and scrub oak. See for example my April 2019 post on how the NJ Pine Barrens recovers from a wildfire and photos from an October 2014 trip to the Pine Barrens. 

Here is the link to a write-up of the Warren Grove Fire from the NJ DEP. This is the link referenced in the above Facebook post.

2022 wildfire season: Coastal Fire (Laguna Niguel, Orange County CA)

I am writing about the Coastal Fire which has burned at least 200 acres in Laguna Niguel (Orange County, California) because I heard that a friend of a friend lives in or near Laguna Niguel. My friend wanted to know where to get more information about the Coastal Fire, so I told them about the CAL FIRE incident page on the Coastal Fire (last updated on May 12th) and about Bill Gabbert's Wildfire Today where Bill has a nice article about the Coastal Fire. Bill does excellent reporting on wildfires including nice maps, I recommend you follow him if you are interested in wildfire news. I understand from Bill's article and other reporting that I have seen that there are evacuations in place and at least 20 residences have been destroyed and one firefighter was injured.

I am reminded that even a more moderate sized fire can affect people and destroy homes. I thank all the wildland firefighters on the ground and in the air who are working this fire. I am thinking of all those who are under evacuation orders, some will go back to find their homes destroyed. 

I am reminded that with the dry conditions in California and elsewhere in the western United States that wildfires such as the Coastal Fire will occur. At this time it may too early to know how large the Coastal Fire will be before it is contained. 

Here are two video reports from Los Angeles TV Stations dated May 13th.

direct link to video on Youtube from CBS Los Angeles

direct link to video on YouTube from KTLA

2022 wildfire season: wildfires in Connecticut

There are some wildfires burning in Middletown, Connecticut, about 300 acres have burned. 

Direct link to video 

2022 NJ wildfire season: Passaic County NJ wildfires under investigation

To the best of my ability, I try to follow wildfires in New Jersey and the activities of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. In my wonderings during the spring wildfire season in New Jersey, which is coming to a close soon, I was vaguely aware that there may have been some wildfires in Passaic County New Jersey but had no specific information. Last week I ran across a May 4th article on NJ Advance Media that these wildfires are under investigation by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, and other state and local agencies. No additional information has been released about this investigation or the location of these wildfires.

Friday Fun: Three lighthouses in Maine from the air

Having spent a few summer vacations as a child camping with my family on the Maine coast, I grew to love lighthouses. Most of the time, I heard them through the fog on foggy nights. For today's Friday fun, enjoy this short and beautiful video of three lighthouses in Maine shot from a drone. 

direct link to video from jeffmld9 on Youtube

2022 wildfire season: IMET deployments (May 3rd)

As wildfire season continues in many areas of the United States, National Weather Service Incident Meteorologists (IMETs) continue to be deployed to wildfires, most are deployed for two weeks. Since I last wrote about IMET deployments on April 25th there have been three IMETs deployed to wildfires. All were deployed on May 3rd. Acreage burned, if indicated is as of the date I am writing this (May 5, 2022). Links to NWS office are to their Twitter accounts. Links to information about the three fires are from Inciweb

• IMET from the NWS Western Region deployed to the Crooks Fire (9,402 acres) near Prescott, Arizona.
• IMET from NWS Las Vegas Nevada deployed to the Cerro Pelado Fire (29,318 acres) near Jemez Springs, New Mexico.
• IMET from NWS El Paso Texas deployed to the Bear Trap Fire (2,309 acres) in the Cibola National Forest in New Mexico

IMETs save lives. 

2022 New Jersey wildfire season: Tanker 61 working the Aero Haven Fire (Burlington County)

I want to take a moment to share with you some photos and a video of Tanker 61 (Air Tractor 602) working the Aero Haven Fire on Sunday, May 1st. The Aero Haven Fire burned 63 acres and was 100 percent contained by Sunday afternoon, see my May 1st post for more information. The video and the photos are courtesy of Downstown Aero Crop Service, Inc and were shared on their Facebook Page.

In this 9 second video you will see Tanker 61 being reloaded.

Here are five nice shots of Tanker 61 working the Aero Haven Fire. Note to see all the photos click on the date at the top of the embedded post from Facebook and you will be able to see all five photos.

Thank-you Tanker 61, for flying the fire to help the wildland fire fighters fight the fire. Thanks also to the ground crews from Downstown and elsewhere who supported Tanker 61 on the ground.

2022 New Jersey wildfire season: wildfire in Burlington County

May 1, 2:55 PM

The Aerohaven Fire in Evesham Township, Burlington County NJ has been contained at 63 acres. Nice job. I understand that Tanker 61 and Delta 2 (helicopter) worked this fire. There were no evacuations and no structures were threatened.

WILDFIRE UPDATE: Evesham Township, Burlington County

At 2 p.m. Sunday, May 1, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has achieved 100 percent containment of a 63-acre wildfire off Kettle Run Road in Evesham Township. The fire has been named the “Aerohaven Wildfire.” pic.twitter.com/iVntY7H0PJ

— New Jersey Forest Fire Service (@njdepforestfire) May 1, 2022

May 1, 12:30 PM

This just in from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service's Twitter Account, wildfire in Evesham Township, Burlington County. I will post updates as I can.

WILDFIRE ALERT: Evesham Township, Burlington County@njdepforestfire is responding to an active wildfire off Kettle Run Road in Evesham Township.

No structures are threatened. Updates will be provided as they are available. pic.twitter.com/f80DEk3B5f

— New Jersey Forest Fire Service (@njdepforestfire) May 1, 2022

 

2022 wildfire season: Red Flag Warnings in Southwest and Mid-Atlantic

 Most morning the first thing I do is to check my local National Weather Service Forecast Office (NWS Philadelphia/Mt Holly) to get the current weather forecast and to be aware of any current weather hazards. So the first thing I noticed is that New Jersey and adjoining areas in Pennsylvania are under a Red Flag Warning for the second day in a row. Along with chilly temperatures (brrr!). 

Obtained on April 29, 2022 from https://www.weather.gov/phi/

When I was listening to the news on the radio earlier this morning, the reporter mentioned that portions of the southwestern United States are under Red Flag Warnings, including States such as New Mexico seeing major wildfires such as the Cooks Peak Fire (55,931 acres) and the Hermits Peak Fire (65,824 acres). Acreage totals are acreage burned from Inciweb at the time I am posting this article. Anyway, it seemed only appropriate to write about today's Red Flag Warnings across the United States. Each NWS Weather Forecast Office (WFO) develops their own Red Flag Warning criteria in collaboration with their partners (including but not limited to State fire fighting agencies); this criteria will vary across WFOs.

screen shot obtained on April 29, 2022 from https://www.weather.gov/fire/

I want to thank all wildland firefighters who are out there today fighting wildfires so that we may be as safe as possible. especially those in areas seeing Red Flag Conditions. Stay safe out there.

2022 NJ wildfire season: Red Flag Warning (April 28)

 

obtained on April 28, 2022 from https://www.weather.gov/phi/ 

Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS): spring 2022

 

Many of you may already know that the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) are activated as needed when all contracted firefighting aerial resources are already committed. There are eight C-130’s in the MAFFS program:

• 146th Airlift Wing - California National Guard 146th Airlift Wing, California Air National Guard
• 152 Airlift Wing - Nevada Air National Guard 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard
• 153rd Airlift Wing- Wyoming Air National Guard 153rd Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard
• 302nd Airlift Wing Air Force Reserve, Paterson Air Force Base 302nd Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve, Peterson Air Force base

Each C-130 in the MAFFS program is fitted with a 3,000 retardant tank that is installed on each aircraft (see the video).

MAFFS are important because they provide a “surge” capability that can be used to boost wildfire suppression efforts when contracted airtankers are fully committed or not readily available. They can discharge their entire load of up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant in less than five seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long by 100 feet wide, or make variable drops. Once the load is discharged, it can be refilled in less than 12 minutes (Obtained on April 27, 2022 from https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/planes/maffs)

There is a nice article from Task and Purpose (April 24, 2022) focusing on the 302nd Airlift Wing Air Force Reserve speaking to how MAFFs are used to fight wildfires. It is a nice read and I hope you take a few moments read the article. The article provides some additional background on the MAFFs program and how the Air Force crews approach firefighting in their C-130s. Here is an excerpt providing a little more detail on the turn around time for reloading a MAFFS c-130 and flying the fire.

"The maintenance crews waiting at the flightline are trained like a NASCAR pit crew, the officer explained: the plane can land, take on a fresh supply of fire retardant and take off again in as little as 15 minutes. A hard day’s work might involve six to eight drops, but crews have performed as many as 15 in a single day. Remember, each of those drops involves an intense amount of concentration to pull off, but it also requires a significant amount of flexibility, Lt Col Richard Pantusa is the chief of aerial firefighting for the 302nd.

All it takes is the wind to shift 90 degrees and everything we’re working on can be called off,” Pantusa said. For example, if smoke blows over the drop zone, it might limit visibility, which makes it too dangerous for MAFFS crews to fly into. Luckily they do not fly alone: it’s standard procedure for C-130s and other firefighting aircraft to follow a smaller lead plane, often flown by federal or state pilots, which makes sure the conditions and wind speed are good and that the escape route is clear for the aircraft to climb back up.

“They show us where the retardant goes, we fly right behind him,” Pantusa said. “They help before you take a 150,000-pound aircraft through.”

As I write this I believe that annual training for MAFFS is underway, after which MAFFS will be ready to be deployed to wildfires if the call comes. Thank-you to the pilots and crews of the C-130 MAFFS for your service. Be safe.

 

2022 wildfire season: NWS Incident Meteorologist deployments (April 25)

As most of you know, the 2022 wildfire season is well under way across the United States, including my own state of New Jersey. Today my focus is outside of New Jersey, but if something develops in my own state, I will write another post. 

With wildfire season comes the deployments of NWS Incident Meteorologists (IMET).  Most deployments are for two weeks. I am listing the IMET deployments in the last week at the end of these paragraphs, thanks to the US National Weather Service IMET Program on Twitter. You may also find the NWS IMET Program on Facebook. This seemingly simple listing of IMET deployments takes a bit of time and comes with a lot of respect and love for the work that IMETs do to provide wildland firefighters the best possible weather forecasts so that they may be safe. IMETs save lives!

There are two sources you may go to in order to learn more about what IMETs, The first is  this great article from Weather Nation on The Role of Incident Meteorologists & Fire. Two a last year , I shared a 21 minute YouTube video called "Forecast Earth, Forecast the Inferno."

To the best of my knowledge there were no IMET deployments from April 14 to April 19. I am listing IMET deployments since April 20:NWS 

April 20

• IMET from NWS Midland, Texas deployed to 2022 Initial Attack near College Station, Texas.
• IMET from NWS Flagstaff, Arizona deployed to the Crooks Fire south of Prescott, Arizona.
• IMET from NWS El Paso, Texas deployed to the Cooks Peak Fire near Ocate, New Mexico.

April 21 and 22 no deployments but . . . the NWS IMET Office shared this extreme fire warning from the NWS in Albuquerque, New Mexico

We cannot overstate how dire & dangerous the weather situation is today!! Very strong winds, exceptionally low humidity, above normal temperatures & unstable conditions are a recipe for extreme fire weather.

Ongoing wildfires will spread & grow rapidly! #OneLessSpark #NMfire pic.twitter.com/WhfqQMwEgw

— NWS Albuquerque (@NWSAlbuquerque) April 22, 2022

April 23

• IMET from NWS Riverton, Wyoming deployed to the Tunnel Fire north of Flagstaff, Arizona.
• IMET from NWS Tucson, Arizona deployed to the Cooks Peak Fire near Ocate, New Mexico.
• IMET from NWS Tucson, Arizona deployed to the Hermits Peak Fire near Santa Fe, New Mexico.
• IMET from NWS Grand Junction, Colorado deployed to the Cerro Pelado Fire near Jemez Springs, New Mexico.
• IMET from NWS Rapid City, South Dakota deployed to Nebraska Spring 22 near North Platte, Nebraska.

April 24 and 25, no deployments at the time I write this post.

2022 NJ wildfire season: enhanced fire danger

I wrote on April 8 reflecting on then recent rainfall wondering if drought conditions in New Jersey would diminish. The answer is yes, most of New Jersey is no longer under drought conditions. Only southern New Jersey is abnormally dry. While I am happy that my area of New Jersey is no longer seeing drought conditions, I am aware that wild fire danger is always present.

Obtained on April 22, 2022 from https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?NJ

Dry conditions can exacerbate fire danger, but fire danger exists without a drought because other factors such as high winds and low relative humidity values play into wildfire danger. And fuels and soil can dry quickly after a rainfall. Today we in New Jersey are under enhanced fire weather warnings. I want to thank the New Jersey Forest Fire for all that they will do today to keep us in New Jersey as safe as we can be from wildfires. Be safe out there.

Special Weather Statement

National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ

405 AM EDT Fri Apr 22 2022

...Enhanced Threat for Fire Spread Today...

The combination of lower humidity values, breezy conditions, and drying fine fuels will lead to an enhanced threat for fire spread today across portions of eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and eastern Maryland. Relative humidity values are forecast to drop into the 20s to around 30 percent, while winds will gust out of the northwest around 20 to 25 mph at times.

Residents are urged to exercise caution handling any potential ignition source, including machinery, cigarettes, and matches. Be sure to properly discard all smoking materials. Any dry grasses and tree litter that ignites will have the potential to spread fire quickly.

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

2022 NJ wildfire season: a new wildfire in Ramapo Reservation (Mahwah, Bergen County)

 I wrote a couple of days about a wildfire in Ramapo Reservation in Bergen County, New Jersey (see my April 16th post). On Wednesday April 20th a new wildfire was reported in Ramapo Reservation. The wildfire is about 40 acres, no residences were threatened or destroyed. According to my friends from the NJ Forest Fire Service Section B10 two helicopters worked the wildfire.

historic wildfires: 1985 Middlesex County NJ

 On April 19, 1985, a wildfire burned at least 600 acres in Monroe Township in Middlesex County, NJ. Thanks to my friends at the NJFFS Section B10 who found some audio clips and photos from this fire and put together a six minute video on YouTube.

Direct link to video from the NJ Forest Fire Service Section B10 on YouTube

No recreational drones in fire zones

I have nothing against drones as long as they flown safely and legally. There are a number of good uses for zones including but not limited to reconnaissance by the National Weather Service in storm surveys, footage for real estate transactions, traffic surveys, agricultural operations and news operations. Flying unauthorized drones in or near a fire zone is not a valid and safe use because drones interfere with aerial operations over a wildfire. Most fire fighting agencies including the the New Jersey Forest Fire Service will shut down air operations over a wildfire if an unauthorized drone is spotted in or near the fire zone. Shutting down air operations means that the wildland firefighters on the ground lose the support of air tankers, helicopters and observation aircraft.

2022 NJ wildfire season: wildfire in Ramapo Reservation

April 17, 2022 update fire contained on April 16th

April 16, 2022 7 AM

This just in. NJ Forest Fire Service crews are working a wildfire in Ramapo Reservation in Bergen County in northern New Jersey. The County has closed the park. I do not know the size of the fire.

2022 NJ wildfire season: April 15th

The NWS at Mt. Holly issued a special weather statement for enhanced fire weather concerns for southern and central New Jersey along with portions of southeast Pennsylvania earlier today:

Fire Weather Planning Forecast

National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ 

1007 AM EDT Fri Apr 15 2022.

DISCUSSION...

A very dry air mass is forecast to build into our region for today. Relative humidity values are expected to fall to around 20 percent in the afternoon. A south to southwest wind is  anticipated to increase to 10 to 15 MPH with gusts around 20  MPH, resulting in some fire weather concerns. Rain amounts were light and spotty for portions of PA and NJ yesterday, so after coordination with PA and NJ state partners, we have issued aspecial weather statement for portions of SE PA (with theexception of Carbon and Monroe where the fire weather season has yet to begin), and central and southern NJ.

We are expecting an increase in relative humidity values along with scattered showers on Saturday, mainly in the afternoon and evening. However, breezy dry conditions will likely return for Sunday and we may again need to focus on fire weather concerns at that time.

Small wildfire in central New Jersey

Thanks to my friends at the NJFFS Section B10 website who reported on a wildfire in Pemberton Township, NJ. There was some spotting. Tanker 61 worked the fire and there was an observation helicopter in the air. I am not sure of the size, only that it was a multi-acre fire. If I hear of other wildfires in New Jersey I will make another post, however, there are likely to be small wildfires that I do not know about.

Friday Fun: some scenes from New Jersey on a holiday weekend

For many this is a holiday weekend coming up with both Easter and Passover coinciding. I want to wish all who are traveling this weekend safe travels. And for those who celebrate either Easter or Passover, I wish a happy holiday. I am also rethinking what I call Friday Fun. With this being mid-April with spring in its many personalities here, I wanted to share some of the beauty of New Jersey. With this in mind I am sharing two videos showing the beauty of a couple of favorite places of mine. The first is a flight in a Cessna 182 over the Delaware Water Gap and the second is of Island Beach State Park.

Delaware Water Gap

Direct link to video on YouTube from bassfreqdotcom

Island Beach State Park

Direct link to video on YouTube from NJ dot com

2022 NJ wildfire season: spring wildfire season has begun, fire safety and ember awareness

We are now in the spring wildfire season here in New Jersey with SEATs on contract through the second week of May: through May 10th in Southern New Jersey NJFFS Division C and through May 12th in Division B. As for northern New Jersey (Division A), last year they had a helicopter with bucket available during spring fire season and I assume but am not certain that the same holds for this year.

Just today I came across this video from the NJ Department of Environmental Protections and the NJ Forest Fire Service called "Ember Awareness" about the threat of ember attacks during a wildfire. The New Jersey State Forest Fire Service has a webpage with publications on what homeowners can do to prepare their homes and property for wildfires, this webpage may be found here. While some of this information may be specific to New Jersey, I think that it might be applicable elsewhere. When I went to this site just now I saw the following publications:

• Firewise USA
• Firewise landscaping in New Jersey
• How to prepare your home for wildfires
• Ready, Set, Go

Direct link to video on Youtube from Discover DEP-NJ Department of Environmental Protection

About fire weather: learn about mixing height

Thanks to my friends at the NWS Incident Meteorologists for sharing this very informative video from Dr. Darren Clabo, Fire Meteorologist for South Dakota, on a fire weather parameter known as the mixing height. I obtained this link from the NWS IMET office in an April 9th post on their Facebook page, unfortunately I am not able to post a direct link to that post. I do read fire weather forecasts and have run across this term and only had a very basic knowledge of what the mixing height referred to. Now, thanks to Dr. Clabo, I know some more. Allow just under 20 minutes to watch the video, it is well worth your time.

Direct link to video from South Dakota Fire Weather

Reflections on recent rainfall and spring wildfire season in New Jersey

When the US Drought Monitor released their weekly map of drought conditions in the United States on Thursday, April 7th (valid for April 5th), I was not surprised to see that southern New Jersey remains under a moderate drought and the rest of New Jersey continues as abnormally dry. While we had what may have been a normal amount of rain last week, it was not enough to change drought conditions in New Jersey. So if we only look at current drought conditions, it might seem that New Jersey remains dry and with spring wildfire season either currently under way or under way soon then these apparent dry conditions may not bode well for the spring wildfire season.

Obtained on April 8, 2022 from https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/

According to the main page of the Drought Monitor website, "the data cutoff for Drought Monitor pas is each Tuesday at 8 a.m. EDT. The maps, which are based on analysis of the data, are released each Thursday at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

However, New Jersey has experienced two low pressure systems since Tuesday evening April 5th bringing a great deal of rain to much of New Jersey. Since the cutoff for data is 8 a.m. on Tuesdays, I feel safe in saying that the rainfall that we got in New Jersey occurred after the cutoff for the April 7, 2022 U.S. Drought Monitor Map. By the way, I checked with someone at my local NWS Weather Forecast Office in the in Mt. Holly NJ who told me that I was correct in saying that Tuesday's rainfall in New Jersey started Tuesday evening. 

I wonder if this rainfall may alleviate the drought in New Jersey? I am unable to provide a definitive answer to this question while we await for the U.S. Drought Monitor to come out with new maps next Thursday, April 14th, I turned to the NWS Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center because they monitor water supply and precipitation, among other things, across the river basins in their forecast area. 

The NWS Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center (NWS MARFC) has two types of precipitation data that might be helpful. The first are maps showing 24, 48 and 72 hour accumulated rainfall across the river basins included in their forecast area . The map that I am sharing here is the 72 hour estimated precipitation from the NWS MARFC for the 72 hours ending at 1 PM on Friday, April 8, 2022. Note the dark purples, reds and oranges in New Jersey, indicating rainfall in excess of 1.75 inches with some areas having estimated precipitation of 2.5 inches or more

Obtained on April 8, 2022 from https://www.weather.gov/images/marfc/mpe/past72.png

I had a conversation with the hydrologists at the NWS MARFC who reminded me of their precipitation departure maps. As the name implies, these maps show precipitation departures from normal across their forecast area. They produce these maps for varying time periods from 7 days up to the last 365 days. I choose the year to date map for New Jersey to share with you (January 1, 2022 through April 7, 2022). If we continue to have rainfall close to average in the immediate future, and we may not, there is cause for some optimism as many counties in New Jersey havre precipitation departures just above average or less than an inch below average. Only two counties have precipitation departure of minus one inch or more.

Obtained on April 8, 2022 from https://www.weather.gov/marfc/NJPrecipitationYTD

So I am cautiously optimistic that we may be close to turning the corner from abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions to a better situation in southern NJ and normal conditions (no drought or dry conditions) in central and northern NJ. Time will tell, I will be back next week with an up date on drought conditions in New Jersey. By the way, I am aware that we in New Jersey and elsewhere in the northeast are relatively lucky as there are extreme drought conditions in the western U.S. 

2021 wildfire season: Idaho City Hotshots 2021 crew video

As a non-firefighter who is interested in wildland firefighting,  I always enjoy watching wildfire crew videos. Enjoy this sixteen minute of the Idaho City Hotshots 2021 season.

Direct link to video uploaded by Krossed Saints

This just in: wildfire in Wharton State Forest NJ

April 5 7:20 PM

Thanks to my friends from the NJ Forest Fire Service Section B10 for telling me about a 62 acre wildfire burning near High Crossing, a ghost town located in Wharton State Forest in Burlington County, NJ (NJFFS Section B3). I know no other information at present. I will update this post when I know more information. 

April 6 8:42 AM

I have no further information about the 62 acre fire in Wharton State Forest. I do know that it rained across all or much of New Jersey last night. If there was rainfall over this fire then I expect that the rain aided the firefighters. 

Reflections on upcoming spring wildfire season in NJ

As we may be near the end of the spring prescribed burning season here in New Jersey and with the spring wildfire season soon upon us, my thoughts turn to paying even closer attention to current and forecasted weather than I do at other times of year. This week, the first full week in April may be a damp week in New Jersey and environs. If that weather forecast holds, then it may mean reduced risk of wildfires. I say maybe because after following and continue to learn about wildfires, I know that even when wildfire risk is minimal that there is still a chance, however minimal, that wildfires may still burn. 

We have been in an abnormally dry period in central and northern New Jersey for the last couple of weeks, with southern New Jersey in moderate drought conditions (see my March 28th post) According to the last update from the US Drought Monitor  (updates available each Thursday reflecting conditions two days before, archived data also available). We had some rain the middle of last week and this weekend but I am not sure if this was enough to to alleviate the dry and drought conditions in New Jersey. So even with forecast rain, I remain concerned about continuing dry conditions in New Jersey and the prospects for a worse spring wildfire season. Of course my concerns are just that concerns, as I am not a Meteorologist nor am I a wildland firefighter.

Obtained on April 5, 2022 from https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/

My concerns about the severity of the spring wildfire may or may not materialize. Even so, there are things that I can do, such as monitoring weather forecasts from the NWS Weather Service as well as monitoring current fire danger. In New Jersey I can monitor current fire danger through the NJ Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) webpage where the NJFFS has an information page on conditions and restrictions. For those of you who live outside of New Jersey, you may want to monitor wildfire conditions through your states forest fire service or the equivalent. There are two NWS Weather Forecast Offices (NWS WFO) in New Jersey covering different parts of the state. The NWS WFO in Upton New York covers the five northeastern counties, The NWS WFO in Mt Holly NJ covers the rest of New Jersey.

There are some tips from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP.). The NJ Forest Fire Service is one of the divisions of the NJDEP.

Some of these tips are easy for me to follow as I have no children, I do not smoke, and I have not used my indoor fire place in a few years. I used to camp when I was younger and was taught by my Dad how to be sure that our campfire was fully doused when we left the campsite and an adult was always around when the campfire was lit. After having a lantern catch fire when I was a kid that scared the you know what out of us, we always brought a fire extinguisher along on our family camping trips. I try to be sure that my driveway is accessible if for no other reason than I need to be sure that the fuel delivery trucks can access the driveway. 

As for defensible space, I keep leaves out of my gutters because if I do not the gutters get clogged.  I admit the while most of the gardens adjoining my house are covered with stone, there is some leaf detritus around and I need to be better at keeping the leaves and the like away from my house.  Yes, I have various perennials and shrubs planted. If I were in an area with higher overall widfire danger, I would have to carefully consider what I plant. 

The closest I came to a small brush fire was when a utility transformer on a pole across the street caught fire. That was scary but my local Volunteer Fire Company was on the ball putting the fire out once the power county cut power to the utility transformer in question. This just goes to show that fires of any kind can crop up and it does pay to be fire aware.

About wildfires: some terminology

 As sometimes happens I got involved in a couple of appointments out of the house and then some important personal business, so I am unable to make the post that I intended to make today. I will try to make up for this tomorrow. In the meantime, here is a short video about some commonly used wildfire terminology.

Direct link to video from WBIR Channel 10 (Tennessee) on YouTube

Friday Fun: A look at the Beech 18

 I became acquainted recently with the Beech 18 aircraft through reading I'll Take the 18: The Story of Beech 18 Freight Flying by Scott H. Gloodt. I had a great time reading about flying freight in the Beech 18 and learned about the Beech 18 and her capabilities. It is available from many e-book vendors. Here is a video that Gloodt did about the book.

Direct link to video on Youtube from Lifted Up Productions

 Here is another video about flying the Beech 18 In the video below you will experience flying in a Beech 18.

Direct link to video on Youtube from Section Eleven Outdoors

2022 NJ wildfire season: Prescribed burns (March 29th & 30th)

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service continues to conduct prescribed burns this week. The schedule of prescribed burns is dependent on favorable weather conditions.

March 29th (see NJFFS March 29th Facebook post)

Burlington County 

- Pemberton Township - Brendan T Byrne State Forest

- Pemberton Township - Private Property 

Ocean County

- Lacey Township - Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area

- Manchester Township - Brendan T Byrne State Forest

- Jackson Township - Municipal Property

Passaic County 

- Ringwood Borough - Ringwood State Park

Somerset County 

- Bernards Township - County Property

March 30th (see NJFFS March 30th Facebook Post)

Burlington County 

- Pemberton Township - Brendan T Byrne State Forest

- Woodland Township - Private Property 

Cumberland County 

- Downe Township - Millville Wildlife Management Area

- Lawrence Township - Millville Wildlife Management Area

Monmouth County

- Wall Township - Private Property 

Ocean County

- Jackson Township - Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area

- Manchester Township - Brendan T Byrne State Forest

Sussex County 

- Andover Township - Kittatinny Valley State Park

Obtained on March 30, 2022 from https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/general_ref/stco_outline/cen2k_pgsz/stco_NJ.pdf

2022 NJ wildfire season: March 28th update

 As I write this, it is abnormally cold with windy conditions as we approach spring fire season. We are also in a period of abnormally dry conditions in the northern part of New Jersey. I am not sure what these abnormally dry conditions bode for New Jersey, but I suspect that in the short term the dry conditions will complicate the spring fire season as dry conditions only increase wildfire danger. Today’s Fire Weather Planning Forecast from the NWS Mt Holly provides an overview of today’s fire weather concerns. Note that this is a planning forecast, New Jersey is not under a Red Flag Warning nor is there a Special Weather Statement for elevated wildfire concerns. to make matters even more interesting there is a chance of snow showers this afternoon.

Obtained on March 28, 2022 from https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/

Fire Weather Planning Forecast

 National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ

 1006 AM EDT Mon Mar 28 2022

 

 .DISCUSSION...

 A cold and dry airmass will be in place today. Surface dew points 

 drop into the single digits to as low as 5 below, and west-northwest 

 winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 25 to 35 mph. Minimum relative 

 humidity values today will range from 20 to 25 percent (a little 

 higher in parts of the southern Poconos). Although scattered 

 flurries are possible in the afternoon, measurable precip is not 

 expected.

 

 Conditions only slightly improve on Tuesday with northwesterly

 winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph, and minimum relative

 humidity values ranging from 20-25% for most locations. There 

 will be much more sunshine Tuesday compared to today and 

 slightly warmer temperatures in the low to mid 40s.

It is brisk and cold here but I know that the NJ Forest Fire Service is taking care of those of us in New Jersey to keep us as safe as possible from wildfires. According to the NJ Forest Fire Service Section B10  , fire towers in northern (NJFFS Section A) and Central New Jersey (NJFFS Section B) are staffed today, March 28th. Note that they NJFFS updates their website frequently so what you see may be different. I have no idea if these towers have a source of heat, if not it is cold. Likewise, if there is a wildfire, no matter how small, crews from the NJFFS along with local mutual aid as applicable will fight the wildfire.

Thank-you NJFFS!  

In honor of women's history month: women in aviation in the U.S. over 100 years

 In honor of women's history month, I want to share a nice video from Mike Machat on "Women in Aviation - From the early pioneers to today's talented female aviators." The focus here is on female aviators in the United States. I enjoyed this video and I hope you do as well. Allow under nineteen minutes to watch the video. 

2022 wildfire season: first IMET deployments of 2022

About three weeks before the annual Incident Meteorologis (IMET) continuity of excellence exercise (March 7 to 11, 2022), the first IMET in 2022 was deployed on February 19th. The IMET, from the US National Weather Service Office in Las Vegas was deployed to the Airport Fire near Bishop, California that was contained on or about February 26. 

In the past week, two more IMETs were deployed. One of these deployments, to a wildfire in Ohio,  serves as a reminder that IMETs are a national resource. 

March 16th deployment

March 18th deployment

IMETs save lives!

2022 NJ wildfire season: fire activity and prescribed burning (March 21)

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service continues to be busy working wildfires to keep us safe and finishing up with prescribed burns. 

A wildfire was reported on Saturday, March 20th in Leisuretown, Southampton Township (Burlington County, NJ). This 50 acre wildfire is currently at 75% containment.

NJ Forest Fire Service Fire Towers are being staffed:

In the meantime prescribed burns are being conducted today, March 21st in Morris County, Somerset County and Ocean County.

BAe-146 retardant drop (Billings MT)

I sometimes like to post aviation videos on Friday. Today I wanted to share a video of an air tanker drop, one that I had not shared previously. I found this video of a BAe-146 airtanker working with a lead plane on a wildfire north of Billings, Montana. I am not sure the date of this drop, that does not matter. Enjoy this video uploaded by TC's Aviation Studio.

Direct link to video on YouTube uploaded by TC's Aviation Studio.

About Incident Meteorologists

Last week the US National Weather Service Incident Meteorologist's (IMET) had their annual Continuity of Excellence Exercise (see my March 9th post for more information).  See this article from kivitv about this training. As a part of this annual training exercise, there was a media day on March 10th. Here is a video from KTVB about IMET training and the important role that IMETs play in helping wildland firefighters stay safe.

Direct link to video from KTVB

See also this March 9 story from KIVITV about what IMETs do.

IMETs save lives!!

About prescribed burns in New Jersey

Direct link to video from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection

I do try to use this blog to highlight what the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) does to keep us safe from wildfires. One of the things that the does to keep us safe in late winter and early spring is conducting prescribed burns. In recent weeks I have been posting about when and where the NJFFS has conducted prescribed burns, see for example my March 4th post.

As I was preparing for today's post,  I reread this February 9th news release from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on the NJFFS 2022 prescribed burn season. I must have given this news release a more careful read than I did a few weeks ago, as I noted a couple of links to YouTube videos about prescribed burns, one of which tI shared above on how the NJFFS uses and constructs plow lines in southern NJ in preparation for conducting prescribed burns. I found this insightful and I hope you do as well. I never stop learning.

When I came across the following Facebook post shared by the NJFFS A7-8 Association on Facebook earlier this morning, I knew that I had to share it with you. The video was posted by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection who was on scene earlier this month during a prescribed burn at the Bass River State Forest in the NJ Pine Barrens. In this video you will hear from the Shawn LaTourette, the Commissioner of the NJ DEP, Greg McLaughlin, Fire Warden and NJFFS Chief, and Dave Golden, Assistant Commissioner for Fish and Wildlife talk about how and why the NJFFS conducts prescribed burns in New Jersey.

A day in the life a NWS Incident Meteorologist

 I wrote about the annual NWS Incident Meteorologist (IMET) Continuity of Excellence Exercise on March 9th. This week the NWS Incident Meteorologist Facebook page continues to make a series of nice posts about this training and related matters. Today I am going to share four posts highlighting a day in the life of an IMET, these three posts are summarized here. 

A typical day in the life of an IMET: 4:30 AM to 6 AM

A typical day in the life of an IMET: 7 AM to 10 AM

A typical day in the life of an IMET: 11:30 AM to 2:15 PM

A typical day in the life of an IMET: 7 PM to 10 PM

NWS Incident Meteorologists: 2022 Continuity of Excellence Exercise

The US National Weather Service Incident Meteorologists are in the midst of their 2022 Continuity of Excellence Exercise or CEE. The IMETs are meeting in Boise Idaho this week (week of March 7th) for CEE with what sounds to me like an opportunity to review important forecasting, safety concerns and other related issues that they will need when they are assigned to a wildfire to provide onsite weather forecasting. The US National Weather Service IMETs have been sharing about CEE on their Facebook page all this week. Some topics covered to date include but are not limited to probabilistic forecast messaging and firefighter safety during extreme weather events and practicing operational weather briefings. 

Of note is that there is a mentoring program for IMET trainees, there are 33 trainees this year (see this NWS IMET Face book post.

Yesterday they the IMETs had a 5K run

Next up on March 11th: a day in the life of an IMET

International Women 's Day: women in wildland firefighting

Tomorrow, March 8, is International Women's Day. I always try to honor all women who are involved in any aspect of wildland firefighting. But March 8th is special so I offer these two stories of women in wildland firefighting. These three represent just a few of the many women working in wildland firefighting to keep us safe from wildfires.

The first is from the Bureau of Land Management

The second is from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection focusing on Ms. Ashley House, Section Warden for the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.

The third and final story is from Coulson Aviation who flies air tankers and helicopters in support of wildland firefighters on the ground. Coulson has contracts in the United States, Chile, and Australia, and perhaps other places that I am not thinking of.

2022 NJ wildfire season: prescribed burns (March 1st to 4th)

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) continues with their late winter/early spring prescribed burning season as weather conditions allow. As always, conducting scheduled prescribed burns is weather dependent and the schedule may change.

The NJFFS scheduled the following prescribed burns on March 1, March 2, and March 4. In putting together this list, I eliminated duplicates, and errors are my responsibility. All of these prescribed burns are in central and southern New Jersey.

Atlantic County 

• Estell Manor City - Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area
• Galloway Township - Other State Property 
• Hamilton Township - Great Egg Harbor River Wildlife Management Area 
• Hamilton Township - County Property 

Burlington County 

• Tabernacle Township - Private Property
• Washington Township - Wharton State Forest
• Woodland Township - Brendan T Byrne State Forest

Camden County 

• Winslow Township - Other State Property

Cape May County 

• Lower Township - Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area
• Upper Township - Peaslee Wildlife Management Area 
• Upper Township - Private Property 

Cumberland County

• Commercial Township - Millville Wildlife Management Area 
• Millville City - Buckshutem Wildlife Management Area
• Millville City - Union Lake Wildlife Management Area

Gloucester County 

• Clayton Borough - Glassboro Wildlife Management Area
• Franklin Township - Private Property 
• Glassboro Borough - Glassboro Wildlife Management Area
• Monroe Township - Glassboro Wildlife Management Area

Monmouth County

• Manchester Township - County Property
• Millstone Township - Assunpink Wildlife Management Area
• Roosevelt Borough - Assunpink Wildlife Management Area
• Upper Freehold Township - Assunpink Wildlife Management Area
• Upper Freehold Township - Pleasant Run Wildlife Management Area
• Upper Freehold Township - Pleasant Run Wildlife Management Area 
• Wall Township - Allaire State Park 
• Wall Township - Manasquan River Wildlife Management Area 

Ocean County 

• Barnegat Township - Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area
• Berkeley Township - County Property 
• Berkeley Township - Crossley Preserve
• Brick Township - Manasquan River Wildlife Management Area
• Jackson Township - Private Property
• Plumsted Township - Private Property 
• Ocean Township - County Property 

GOES-T launched on March 1st

 GOES-T, the third satellite of NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites had a successful launch yesterday. GOES-T joins GOES East and GOES West. After going through a testing period, GOES-T now known as GOES 18 will become GOES West. In May, GOES 18 will replace GOES 17, which has had some problems with its Advance Baseline Imager, as GOES West. GOES 17 will then become an in-orbit spare.

Direct link to abbreviated launch video on YouTube from SciNews

The Advance Baseline Imager (ABI) is new to the current series of GOES satellites in the GOES R series, currently GOES 16, GOES 17, and GOES 18. Here is a short description from NASA's GOES-T blog on what the Advance Baseline Imager does:

The Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) is the primary instrument on the GOES-R Series for imaging Earth’s weather, oceans, and environment. ABI is used for a wide range of applications related to severe weather, hurricanes, aviation, natural hazards, the atmosphere, oceans, and cryosphere. ABI scans Earth five times faster with four times the resolution and three times the number of channels than previous GOES for more accurate and reliable forecasts and severe weather warnings.

Natural hazards referred to above includes detecting wildfires.

Two recent articles from space dot com discuss a malfunction in the GOES 17 ABI due to a lack of coolant in the ABI system due to a debris getting into the coolant piping system (see this article from space dot com).The ABI systems in GOES-T now GOES 18, has some fixes in the ABI so that this malfunction does not reoccur. I hope that this fix works. Here is a second article on Space dot com describing the GOES-T launch and what the satellite will do in orbit.

There are a nice group of articles on NASA's GOES-T blog covering various aspects of GOES-T including the launch and first stage rocket separation, main engine restart, and separation from the rocket.