Wildfire Week in Review from NIFC

I came across this nice short video from the National Interagency Fire Center reviewing wildfires for the week ending August 2, 2024 with some good fire photography of the fires referred to in this video. According to the NIFC video, 28,649 wildfires had burned 4,512,854 acres the year through August 2nd. Updated year to date figures and other wildfire news may be obtained from NIFC at the above link.

Direct link to video from the National Interagency Fire Center on YouTube

Here is a list of wildfires mentioned in this video. I looked on Inciweb for links to incident information for each of these fires, I hope that the links are correct. I did double check each link, any errors are mine.

• Park Fire, California
• Hill Fire, California
• Currant Creek Fire, Colorado
• Boulder Fire, Idaho
• Gwen Fire, Idaho
• Wolf Creek Fire, Idaho
• Thunder Fire, Idaho
• Falls Fire, Oregon
• Homestead Complex, Oregon
• Badland Complex, Oregon
• Oakridge Lightning Fire, Oregon
• Telephone Fire, Oregon
• Ore Fire, Oregon
• Easy Fire, Washington
• Swawilla Fire, Washington
• Pincer Two Fire, Washington
• Clearwater Fire, Wyoming

2024 Wildfire Season: All Survived Helicopter Accident

 I do know that there are survivable aviation accidents, including those affecting the wildland firefighting community. However,  I am rarely in the position to have information to share with you on an aviation accident where all on board survived. Today I do, thanks to Bureau of Land Management Fire that I will share with you at the end of this post.  My understanding is that a Bell 407 helicopter carrying a helitack crew had to use autorotation for an emergency landing after an in-flight emergency. Kudos to the pilot. I am thankful that all onboard survived.

As soon as I saw the post from the Bureau of Land Management Fire, I knew that I had to share this with you. It is so special to be able to share about an accident where all survived. Perhaps some of the survivors are experiencing some psychological effects from surviving the accident, in my opinion that would be understandable.

Example of a Fire Camp at a Complex Incident

 I am always on the lookout for interesting photographs and videos to share with you that give us a glimpse at life working a wildfire. The Facebook video that I will share with you in this post is about life at the fire camp for the Cougar Creek Fire that has burned 18,615 acres near Ellensburg Washington. The fire was first reported on July 15th and is currently at 29 percent containment. I called this a complex incident in the title to this post because according to inciweb's Aug 2nd news report the fire is currently under the command of the Northwest Complex Incident Management Team, Jeff Dimke - Incident Commander.

I am reasonably certain that larger, more complex fire with lots of personnel and equipment assigned to the wildfire such as the Cougar Creek Fire will have a fire camp while smaller less complex fires may not have a separate fire camp. I suspect that some amenities such as the laundry facility and a store may not be available at all fire camps. There is a nice AP article dated August 28, 2021 written by Keith Ridler about fire camps that you might want to read.

While I understand and want to be clear that not all wildfire will have a fire camp like the one you see in the video, you will get an idea of the life of a wildland firefighter on more complex incidents while they are not fighting a fire. Of course, at a smaller fire the firefighters may be camping out with few if any amenties in a safe spot close to but not in or near the fire line.

2024 Wildfire Season: NJ Forest Fire Service Helping in California

This year the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has deployed crews and engines to help fight wildfires in California, I wrote about there first deployment on June12th with an update on July 1st about another deployment. I am not quite sure of the status of these deployments, but some crews have returned to New Jersey. Crews serve for a maximum of 14 days before rotating out and possibly being replaced by new crews. I am embedding a nice July 30th report from CBS Philadelphia on these deployments.

Direct link to CBS Philadelphia on YouTube

Fatal AT802 Crash July 25th Seneca, Oregon

Direct link to video from KTVB on YouTube

Early last Friday morning (July 26th) I learned that a SEAT (AT-802) was missing in the vicinity of the Falls Fire near Seneca Oregon. Later that evening I learned that investigators had found the crash site and the pilot, the sole occupant, had died in the crash. I followed this crash over the weekend and saw a post from the BLM in Oregon and Washington saying that James Bailey Maxwell, 74 was flying the SEAT when it crashed on July 25th. I offer my condolences to the family, friends, colleagues and all who loved James. James, may you always fly in favorable winds. I will not forget your sacrifice, may you rest in peace.

Friday Fun: EAA AirVenture Highlights from AirShowStuffVideos

 I knew that EAA AirVenture is still going on this week in Oshkosh. I wanted some aviation related videos to share with you today. Knowing that AirshowStuffVideos does a great job with their videos of air shows and related aviation interests, I went to YouTube and quickly found a couple of videos. The one that I am sharing today is a video of highlights from EAA AirVenture on Thursday, July 25th shot by AirshowStuffVideos. I liked this video because I got to see many older and historic aircraft in addition to more recent aircraft. I also got to see shots of some of the many aircraft on the ground at EAA AirVenture. For those that are interested, AirshowStuffVideos had some nice highlights from Wednesday, July 24th with more recent aircraft including the Blue Angels and many others I recognized.

Here is the video from AirshowStuffVideos of 2024 EAA AirVenture Thursday Highlights.

Direct link to video from AirshowStuffVideos on YouTube 

2024 Wildfire Season: Incident Meteorologist Deployments July 17-23

I come here today to make an overdue post about the important role that National Weather Service Incident Meteorologists (IMETs) do when deployed on the site of a wildfire to help firefighters and others stay safe. See the photo essay below for more information:

Over the last week (July 17 to July 23) 18 IMETs have been deployed to wildfires (dates are approximate). I obtained this information from the US National Weather Service IMET (Office) on Facebook. I spent some time doing a search for information on these wildfires on Inciweb, any errors are mine. I did check the links before posting. 

July 18th

• Horse Gulch Fire, Helena MT
  
• Bench Lake Fire, Stanley Idaho
  
• Hill Fire, Willow Creek CA
  

July 19th

• Ore Fire, Blue River OR
  
• Cougar Creek Fire, Asotin WA
  
• Battle Mountain Complex, Ukiah OR
  

July 21st

• Shelly Fire, Etna CA
  
• Speirs Fire, Vernal Utah
  
• Homestead Complex, Roseburg OR
• Cougar Creek Fire, Asotin WA

July 22nd

• Pioneer Fire, Stehekin WA
  
• Pyramid Fire, Cascadia OR
  
• Whisky Creek Fire, Cascade Locks OR

July 23rd

• Boneyard Fire, Monument OR
  
• Durkee Fire, Durkee OR
  
• Lane 1 Fire, Springfield OR
  
• Swawilla Fure, Keller WA
  
• Red Fire, Crescent OR
  

Pausing to Remember 4 Firefighters who Died in the Line of Duty on July 22, 1977

Direct link to video on YouTube from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group on YouTube

Please join me in pausing and remembering four firefighters from the Eagleswood (NJ) Fire Co who died in the line of duty on July 22, 1977 when their truck burned over while fighting the Bass River Fire. May they continue to rest in peace.

• Chief Harold “Skip” Cranmer, Jr., 32 years old;
• Assistant Chief Marcus Cullen, 28 (FN, US Navy)
• Firefighter John “Red” Baker, 52
• Firefighter Herbert “Herb” Blackwell, Jr. 23

Remembering Firefighters Who Died in 1977 Fighting a Fire in Bass River State Forest

At some point since after I started this blog on aerial wildland firefighting I became aware of the four volunteer firefighters from the Eagleswood Volunteer Company, station 52 who lost their lives fighting a 2,300 acre wildfire in Bass River State Forest on July 22, 1977. Southern NJ had experienced a bad drought that year coupled with an eight day heat wave from July15 to July 23rd.

I will always remember the four firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we might be safe.

• Chief Harold “Skip” Cranmer, Jr., 32 years old; 
• Assistant Chief Marcus Cullen, 28 (FN, US Navy); 
• Firefighter John “Red” Baker, 52; 
• Firefighter Herbert “Herb” Blackwell, Jr., 23. 

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Whip-Poor-Will Wildfire Final Update

The Whip-Poor-Will Wildfire that was reported in the early afternoon of July 16th at the Warren Grove Air-to-Ground Range in Bass River Township in Burlington County NJ has burned 1,167 acres and is at 80 percent containment. Because the wildfire occurred on an active gunnery range that is frequently used for weapons testing there is some speculation, perhaps unfounded that weapons testing may have lead to the wildfire. This is just speculation as the New Jersey Forest Fire has yet to release a cause of this wildfire. Overnight rain helped the wildland firefighters to increase containment of this wildfire.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Whip-Poor-Will Wildfire

 

NJ Forest Fire Service's Lakewood NJ Fire Tower Decommissioned

 

The NJ Forest Fire Service decommissioned the Lakewood Fire Tower in early July. The fire tower was built in 1944 on land that was leased by the State of New Jersey. The owner of the property that the Lakewood Fire Tower sits on is ending and they want the tower removed. For more information on the decommissioning of the Lakewood Fire Tower, the adjacent lands and plans to build a new fire tower in Jackson Township, see this July 11th article on New Jersey Advance Media.

Direct link to video from NJ.com (NJ Advance Media) on YouTube

Fatal AT802A Scooper Crash July 9 Montana

I am saddened to write of another fatal SEAT crash, an amphibious AT-802 "Scooper" aka Fireboss from Dauntless Air piloted by Juliana Turchetti crashed while working the Horse Gulch Fire in Montana (burned 10,849 acres at 0 percent containment). I offer my prayers on condolences to Juliana's family, her colleagues from Dauntless and all who loved her. May she always fly in favorable winds.

According to the Daily Montanan (July 11th)

 

Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton released Turchetti’s identity to the Daily Montanan just after noon on Thursday. The FireBoss pilot died when her plane, a single-engine water-scooping Air Tractor AT-802, hit the mountainside and landed in Hauser Lake, Dutton said in a text message.

Turchetti was employed by Idaho-based Dauntless Air, a company operating firefighting aircraft for more than 25 years who has held state and federal contracts since 2009, according to the company’s website. The company was contracted to fly for the Idaho Department of Lands but was on loan to the U.S. Forest Service, a spokesperson for the Forest Service said.

Dutton said Turchetti was a native of Brazil who was working in the U.S. on a visa. Dutton said Turchetti leaves behind a 17-year-old son and “numerous” family members in Brazil.

 Juliana was also an Ag pilot, one of the first women in Brazil to fly Ag planes. 

Inside look at Coulson's Tankers and Lead Planes

 I just found a great 13 minute video showcasing Coulson's Tankers and Lead Planes from Downie Live that I want to share with you. The videographer was in the cockpit of a Coulson Tanker on a training day, you will also see how the tanker is loaded with retardant and what the inside of the tanker looks along with footage of some drops. You may see some paid promotions in the video. 

Direct link to video from DownieLive on YouTube

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Tea Time Hill Wildfire, July 8th final update.

At 8 PM tonight, January 8th, the NJ Forest Fire Service reported that the Tea Time Hill Wildfire in Wharton State Forest in Tabernacle Township, Burlington County has burned 4,300 acres and is at 90 percent containment. Some roads and trails remain closed in and around Wharton State Forest. Kudos and much respect for the NJ Forest Fire Service Wildland firefighters who worked this fire in extreme heat and humidity.

Hurricane Hunters 2024 edition part 2

I do delve into aviation related issues that do not directly relate to wildland firefighting. One example being the important work that Hurricane Hunting aircraft to fly into hurricanes to gather important meteorological and location of tropical storms and hurricanes that are then sent to the National Hurricane Center. As many of you no doubt know from various news sources, Hurricane Beryl made landfall on the Texas Coast early this morning near Matagorda, Texas as a Catagory 1 hurricane, see this CNN report with updates for more information on how Beryl is impacting Texas including but not limited to wide spread power outages, flooding, etc.

I know that hurricane hunters have flown Beryl and have posted many videos over the years (see my posts labeled hurricane hunters). I want to draw your attention to two posts, one from June 3rd 2024 where I shared an NPR report on hurricane hunters including interviews with pilots. The second post is from July 7th, 2021 where I shared some information about hurricane hunter aircraft from NOAA and the US Air Force Reserve as well as a video of a hurricane hunter aircraft flying into a hurricane, the links in that article were still good as I posted this article. I encourage you to take a look at the two articles.

I want to share a video report from CBS17 (Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville NC) taking you inside one of NOAA's hurricane hunters known as Kermit just before the start of the 2024 hurricane season. I want to thank all the hurricane hunters pilots and crew for the good work you do flying into hurricanes to provide the best possible information on hurricanes and tropical storms.

Direct link to video from CBS17 on YouTube

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Tea Time Hill Wildfire, July 7th update #4

According to the latest update from the NJ Forest Fire Service, the Tea Time Hill Wildfire remains at 4,000 acres burned. Containment has risen to 75 percent. The Batona Campground remains under evacuation orders. Some trails and roads in and around Wharton State Forest remain closed. A helicopter with a 300 gallon bucket continues to work the fire. I will make my next post when the status of the fire changes, either acreage or containment.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Tea Time Hill Wildfire, Fireworks id'd as cause

According to the most recent update (July 7th, 1 PM) from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS), the cause of the Tea Time Hill Wildfire has been identified as fireworks set off in the forest late on July 4th.  This fire has burned 4,000 acres in the Wharton State Forest in Burlington County, New Jersey and remains at 65 percent containment. Some trails and roads in Wharton State Forest remain closed and the Batona Campground continues to be under evacuation. A helicopter with a 300 gallon bucket continues to work the wildfire. Kudos to the wildland firefighters from the NJ Forest Fire Service and any other responders for working the fire in extreme heat and humidity. 

The NJ Forest Fire Service expects to have another update later this afternoon and if the status of the fire changes I will make another post.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Tea Time Hill Wildfire, July 6th update #2

Excessive Heat Warning

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
255 PM EDT Sat Jul 6 2024

DEZ001-NJZ010-012-015>019-PAZ070-071-104-106-070000-
/O.CON.KPHI.EH.W.0002.000000T0000Z-240707T0000Z/
New Castle-Somerset-Middlesex-Mercer-Salem-Gloucester-Camden-
Northwestern Burlington-Delaware-Philadelphia-Eastern Montgomery-
Lower Bucks-
Including the cities of Pennsville, Doylestown, Norristown, New
Brunswick, Camden, Mount Holly, Morrisville, Lansdale,
Philadelphia, Wilmington, Glassboro, Moorestown, Trenton, Cherry
Hill, Media, and Somerville
255 PM EDT Sat Jul 6 2024

...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values up to 106.

* WHERE...Portions of northern Delaware, central, northern, and
  southern New Jersey, and southeast Pennsylvania.

* WHEN...Until 8 PM EDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Heat related illnesses increase significantly during
  extreme heat and high humidity events.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of
the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose
fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning
or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and
heat stroke.

&&

Here is the July 6th, 4 PM update on the Tea Time Hill Wildfire from the NJ Forest Fire Service. The fire has burned 4,000 acres and the containment has increased slightly to 65 percent. Some trails and roads remain closed in Wharton State Forest. A helicopter with a 300 gallon bucket continues to work the fire in support of the ground crews. A comment, as noted above, there is an excessive heat warning in central and southern New Jersey until 8 PM and temperatures as I write this are 98F at McQuire Air Force Base, several miles from the fire. The nearest NWS reporting station to the fire is out of commission as I write this. 

I will post an update when the status of the Tea Time Hill Wildfire changes. 

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Tea Time Hill Wildfire, July 6th update #1

 I am sorry that I missed the July 5th 8:30 PM update from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) on the Tea Time Hill Wildfire where the NJFFS reported that the fire had burned approximately 1,200 acres and was at 40 percent containment. The NJFFS just posted their July 6th morning update at about 9:15. The wildfire has burned approximately 4,000 acres and is at 60 percent containment. No structures are currently threatened, the Batona Campground remains closed, some trails and roads in Wharton State Forest are closed. A helicopter with a 300 gallon bucket is working the fire. You might want to check out 6ABC in Philadelphia and/or News12 New Jersey for their reporting on this fire, both have video reports.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Tea Time Hill Wildfire (July 5th)

 

I heard about the Tea Time Hill Wildfire a short time ago, from the NJ Forest Fire Service on Facebook and from my friend at the B10 NJ Wildfire Page. As I write this, the Tea Time Hill Wildfire has burned 450 acres in near Apple Pie Hill Fire Tower in Wharton State Forest in New Jersey (Tabernacle Township, Burlington County, NJ).

Friday Fun: TBM Avenger and Other Historic Aircraft Saluting Veterans

 For this week's Friday Fun I am sharing a nineteen minute video that I will embed below. The video is from Airshow Stuff Videos of a 2024 Airshow of a TMB Avenger gathering and salute to Veterans around Memorial Day 2024. I am not sure where this airshow was. TBM Avengers were used in aerial firefighting, my tagged articles on the Avenger may be found here (most recent first). See for example my July 26th 2010 introduction to a series on the TBM Avenger, please note that some of the links in this series are expired but with the help of a friend I hope that the introduction provides a brief overview of the Avenger. The World War Aviation Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado has a nice page with history and specifications of the TBM Avenger that may be found on this page. 

You will see other historic aircraft in this video.

Enjoy, the video is just over nineteen minutes

Direct link to video from AirShowStuffVideos on YouTube

How BLM Fire Uses SEATs

 Sometimes I luck out when I am looking on social media for things to share with you. Yesterday I saw on my Youtube feed a video from the National Interagency Fire Center on their YouTube channel about how the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM0 fire aviation program about their use of Single Engine Airtankers (SEATs) and all the support personal who work with the SEATs. I am aware of the good work that the BLM does out west and applaud their use of SEATs on wildfires in and around their territory. I learned a lot from this video not only about SEATs but also from SEAT aviation managers at various bases used by SEATs. Enjoy. Allow for under six minutes to watch this video.

Direct link from the National Interagency Fire Center on YouTube

2024 Wildfire Season: NJ Forest Fire Service Deploys Additional crews to CA

 I shared a couple of weeks ago that the NJ Forest Fire Service deployed one type 6 engine with two crew to southern California. This engine and crew are currently helping to fight wildfires in the Sequoia National Forest, I learned on June 28th that the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) has deployed two more engines, type 4 engines, with six crew to southern California to support wildland land fire fighting operations. I understand that these deployments do not negatively impact the ability of the NJFFS to fight wildfires in New Jersey. I think the crews for helping out in southern California and in doing so you are spending time away from your families. You honor us with your service.

Friday Fun: P-51 Mustang (dual seat) flying over NJ shore

 In looking for a fun aviation to share with you for Friday Fun I did a search on YouTube on flying over the NJ shore and saw this 2016 video from a passenger on a dual seat P-51 Mustang "Betty Jane" from the Collings Foundation. I was intrigued by this 14 minute video and wanted to share this with you. You may want to read about the P-51 Mustang, "Betty Jane" on this page from the Collings Foundation. You will see the pilot introducing the P-51 to his passenger before taking off on their flight over the New Jersey shore. The Collings Foundations takes their historic planes on tours around the United States, and I have visited them in New Jersey a couple of times over the last several years I was privileged to see Betty Jane up close and in person.

Direct link to video by  Duke JJZ on YouTube

Multi-Agency Rescue on Appalachian Trail in the Delaware Water Gap

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service like other State and National Fire Fighting Agencies may be involved in assisting other agencies in rescues on hiking trails and the like. Such an incident happened the night of June 25th near the Catfish Fire Tower on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in the Delaware Water Gap (see the map).

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service assisted in a medical rescue on the AT near the Catfish Fire Tower.

A Facebook Post from the Knowlton Twp. Fire and Rescue Company #1- Station 41 (embedded at the end of this post) there were two rescues on the evening of June 25th. The first was a sick hiker near the Catfish Fire Tower who was evacuated via a stokes stretcher.  The following agencies assisted in this rescue: Knowlton Township Fire and Rescue Co No 1, St Lukes Emergency and Transport Services, Blairstown Hose Company, Stillwater Area Volunteer Fire Company, Blairstown Ambulance Corp, NJ Jersey Forest Fire Service,  National Park Service LEO Rangers, Warren County Search and Rescue, St Clairs Emergency Medical Services Paramedics.

While the rescue near Catfish Fire Tower was going on, there was a second incident, a fall from the Red Dot Trail on Mt. Tammany in the Worthington State Forest. Agencies involved in this rescue were: Knowlton Township Fire and Rescue Co No 1, Portland Hook and Ladder, Stillwater Area Volunteer Fire Company,  Freden Volunteer Fire Department, Blairstown Hose Company, NJ Forest Fire Service, NJ Park Police, NJ State Police, National Park Service LEO Rangers, National Park Service High Angle Rescue Team, Warren County Search and Rescue, and Blairstown Ambulance Corps. The terrain on this trail required five rope systems in order to evacuate the injured party on a Stokes stretcher.

I have been on both of the trails mentioned here, but that was several years ago before I got arthritis in my knees. I would not hike on the Red Dot Trail again, it is rugged and some rock scrambling is required as I recall. I am not sure about the AT up to the Catfish Tower, a nice trail but I am not sure my knees could take it. I offer my thanks to all the agencies who were involved in both of the rescues last night. Kudos to all. 

Fatal SEAT (Air Tractor 802A) Crash on June 21st in New Mexico

RIP Ronald "Van" Patton. My thoughts and prayers are with your family, colleagues, friends and all who loved you. Edited at 4PM on June 24th to add that thanks to a friend, I saw this post on Facebook from Coastal Air Strike about the fatal SEAT crash. It was not until June 26th that I found out that Kelly Andersson of Fire Aviation made an excellent post on June 24th about the crash, you will want to go and read Kelly's excellent write-up about Ronald "Van" Patton.

2024 Wildfire Season: Salt & South Fork Fires, New Mexico

I want to thank a good friend of mine who sent me an article (dated July 19th) about the Salt and South Fork Wildfires that started on Monday, July 17th on Mescalero Apache tribal land. I learned from this article from the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal with photos that the State Police had found the bodies of two individuals who had died in the fires, that 1,400 homes in and around Ruidoso have been destroyed, there was a mandatory evacuation order in nearby Ruidoso, and that some residents were unaccounted for. Heavy rainfall has lead to other problems, most notably debris flows. I then went to Wildfire Today and saw that Kelly Andersson wrote about the Salt and South Fork Fires on June 18th.

I went to Inciweb a short time ago to find more information, their page on the Salt and South Fork Fires may be found here. I have shared their latest below. The current Incident Commander is Dave Gesser of The Southwest Area Incident Management Team 5. As I write this, the South Fork Fire has burned 16,349 acres and the Salt Fire has burned 7,652 acres. Both fires are at 0 percent containment. The State of New Mexico has similar information about these fires that I found here, please note that I suspect that this page is updated so depending on when you are reading this article you may see something different.

Obtained on June 21, 2024 at 2 PM from the South Fork and Salt Fires Inciweb Map page

Michelle Lujan Grisham, the Governor of New Mexico, declared a State of Emergency on June 20th authorizing $5.25 million for relief efforts. Also on June 20th, President Biden declared a Major Disaster Declaration to support relief efforts. KRWG Public Media out of New Mexico has  June 20th article on their website reporting on a Thursday night public meeting with a discussion on the effects of heavy rain on Wednesday night leading to flash flooding and the dangers of debris flows. Evacuation orders are still in place.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Wildfire Along NJ Turnpike (Hudson County)

 A wildfire is currently burning along the eastern spur of the New Jersey Turnpike in Secacus, Hudson County. This is north of Newark International Airport and south of the George Washington Bridge in northern New Jersey. The lead agency is the Secaucus Fire Department with the NJ Forest Fire Service assisting. For more information see this article from News 12 New Jersey and this gifted article from NJ Advance Media. Travelers on the Turnpike are experiencing smoky conditions. The cause and the size of the wildfire are unknown at this time. According to the NJ State Police, the fire was extinguished on Thursday afternoon.

2024 Wildfire Season: New BLM SEAT Base in Casper WY

 Direct link to Facebook post by Casper/Natrona County International Airport

I have a lot of respect for the Bureau of Land Management Fire operations in the United States. Further, as regular readers know, I have a lot of respect for Single Engine Airtankers (SEAT) that do important work all over the United States and internationally working wildfires in support of the wildland firefighters on the ground. SEAT bases and other airports capable of handling SEAT traffic and supporting operations in close proximity to wildfires are important. So when I saw reference to the opening of a BLM SEAT base at the Casper/Natrona County International Airport on June 14th, I knew that I wanted to share this with you. I understand that this airport also has a Large Air Tanker base.

Aerial Fire Magazine has a short article about the opening of the new base in Casper that may be found here. In addition, K2Radio out of Wyoming covers the opening of the new base in an article posted after the base opened

2024 Wildfire Season: Post Fire, AZ and Update on Adams and Spring Fires

On June 5th, I wrote about two larger wildfires that were burning in the Tonto National Forest in Arizona, the Adams and the Spring Fire. The Spring Fire was 100 percent contained at 4,097 acres over a week ago and the Adams Fire was also at 100 percent containment a week ago at 5,029 acres.

Direct link to video from OnsceneTV on YouTube

Thanks to my friends at the B10 New Jersey Wildfire Page where I learned about the Rose Fire, thanks to a video they shared today that I have embedded here. The fire started last Wednesday, June 12th near Wickenburg, AZ, north west of Phoenix in Maricopa County. I believe but am not sure that the footage fromthe scene of the wildfire was shot last Thursday, June 13th. While according the stats from Inciweb on the Rose Fire, the fire burned 166 acres it did destroy 15 structures, seven of which were residences along with some vehicles. What hit homes for me about this wildfire is that a relatively small wildfire of a couple of hundred acres can lead to the loss of people's homes and other structures and vehicles. 

SEATs were initially used on the wildfire before larger aircraft, Scoopers, Very Large Airtankers and Helicopters. News 12 out of Phoenix has a June 16th report (with a video) on the fire reporting on some losses of those who lost their homes.

2024 Wildfire Season: Bridger Aerospace Sends Scoopers to Arizona

 I like to try to keep track of where Airtankers are deployed to help the crews on the ground as they fight wildfires. When I was checking social media just now to try to see what was going in the aerial wildfire community I saw that On July 13th,  Bridger Aerospace out of Bozman Montana is sent two of their Scoopers, 285 'Devils Brigade" and 286 "Matthew, to Arizona to assist in fighting wildfires. Thanks Bridger Aerospace, stay safe.

2024 Wildfire Season: New Jersey Forest Fire Service Sending Engine and Crew to Southern California

Every year around this time I start looking to see if the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) is sending an engine(s) and crew to other parts of the country to help them fight wildfires. This year, the NJFFS is sending one type 6 engine with two crew to southern California. Last year the NJFFS sent two engines with five crew to southern California. This deployment will not impact the ability of the NJFFS to fight wildfires in New Jersey. The crew is driving out west and I believe that the crew's deployment is for a period of up to two weeks. My understanding is that the receiving state, in this case California pays the cost. On a personal note, I have family and friends in southern California so I am thankful that the NJFFS will be helping out. Thank-you NJFFS type 6 engine and crew for your service. Stay safe.

CL-215/415 "Scoopers"

 One of the aerial tools in the wildfire toolbox are the CL215/415 Scoopers, these are amphibious aircraft specially built to scoop water out of water bodies to fight wildfires. There are at least two companies that fly Scoopers, Bridger Aerospace  and Aeroflite. Bridger has a nice 3D Tour of one of their Scoopers that I hope you can access from Bridger's webpage on Scooper operations, go here for the desktop version, and look for the "access 3D tour link"; I could not access the desktop link on Chrome but could on Safari and Firefox. The link for mobile devices should be here.

I just came across a video from ABC 15 News in Phoenix showcasing Aeroflite's Scooper. I found this report from ABCC 15 on Scooper operations and their benefits to be very informative and I hope that you will enjoy this video, just over 2 minutes. The CL215 and 415 Scoopers from Bridger Aerospace should operate in the same as Aeroflite's. As the video points out, one of the important benefits of Scoopers is that they can scoop water out of a water body near a wildfire, fly the fire and then come back for another load and to the same thing again, as long as needed. ABC 15 Phoenix does have the video on their YouTube channel but I am unable to embed their video, but there is a direct link to video from ABC15Arizona on YouTube if you want other viewing options (report on the Scooper starts at 28 seconds).

Friday Fun: Nightime Aerobatics in a Twin Beech 18

 A while back I read a book (I'll Take the 18 by Scott H Gloodt) on freight flying in a Twin Beech 18 where I felt like I got to know the Beech 18 through the pilot author. When I was looking for a fun aviation video to share this week for "Friday Fun" I ran across a couple of videos of Twin Beech Aerobatics flown by Matt Younkin. To learn about the Twin Beech 18 that Matt Younkin flies go to the aircraft page on his website. The video that I am embedding here shows Matt flying a Twin Beech 18 doing night time aerobatics at the 2023 TBM Avenger Reunion.

Direct link to video by AirShowStuffVideos on YouTube

2024 Wildfire Season: Arizona Wildfires

Direct link to video from 12 News in Arizona on YouTube

Thanks to my friends at the daily video updates from my friends at the B10 NJ Wildfire Page as well as stories in the wildfire channel of the newsfeed on my devices, I have been aware of the wildfires that are burning in Arizona. One wildfire that I have read about is the Wildcat Fire that burned 14,402 acres in the Tonto National Forest near Phoenix Arizona, the Wildcat Fire is now at 100 percent containment. I am aware of two other larger wildfires that are still burning, both are in the Tonto National Forest. Stage 1 fire restrictions are in place for much of Arizona.

Adams Fire The Adams fire is still burning in the Tonto National Forest. According to the most recent update on the Adams Fire on Inciweb the Adams fire has burned 5,029 acres and is at 49 percent containment.

Spring Fire The Spring fire continues to burn in the Tonto National Forest. According to the latest update on the Spring Fire on Inciweb (the evening of Jun 4th), this wildfire has burned 4,097 acres and is at 70 percent containment.

About Hurricane Hunters in 2024

I was listening to  WHYY, this morning who broadcasts reports from National Public Radio (NPR) as a part of their Morning Edition broadcast. I heard a good report on the Hurricane Hunters of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, the text of the report and some nice photos may be found on this NPR page.

Here is an embedded to link to their audio report:

I hope that you look at the link I provided earlier to look at their awesome photos.

A couple of points stuck out, one is that they have been using the same aircraft since 1996 and have requests to Congress for increased funding. Another point is that for the last several years they have been flying some missions in the winter to assess winter storms. This means that instead of flying for six months they are flying for 10 months. Finally they are bracing for a busier than usual 2024 hurricane season.

Here is an excerpt from their report where some of the pilots share about flying hurricanes:

The squad is known as the Hurricane Hunters, and they’re bracing for a busy tropical season. On a late May afternoon, 6 airmen are gathered around a conference table at their headquarters, looking over conditions for the day ahead of a training flight.

“I was thinking at some point today we run through the invest checklist [to] get ready since storm season is a week away,” McDermott says during the pre-flight briefing.

This is the only U.S. military unit tasked to collect real-time information for hurricane forecasters. They fly over, around, and through dangerous storms, piercing the eyewall as the propeller aircraft is pelted by hail and at times, winds topping 150 miles-an-hour.

“There's the cliché it’s like a roller coaster in a car wash,” says Lt. Col. Steven Burton, deputy operations commander with the Hurricane Hunters.

"A lot of times it's not that bad, but you get those once every now and then and makes you question your life's choices where it's violently shaking and there's hail hitting the windows and it's loud and the pilots are doing everything they can to maintain control of the airplane," says Burton, who has been with the Hurricane Hunters for about ten years.

Friday Fun: Helicopters Flying Over Stadiums

For last week's Friday Fun I shared a video of the Blue Angels performing at Annapolis. I was chatting with a friend a couple of days who told me that they saw some helicopters flying over a stadium. That conversation gave me the idea for this week's Friday Fun on Helicopter Flyovers.

I am embedding three short videos of helicopter flyovers football stadiums. Enjoy

1. Helicopters flying over Bills Stadium (late 2022?)

Direct link to video by Owen Gage on YouTube

2. Helicopter Flyover NFL Bills-Jets Game, 11/19/2023

Direct link to video by MarkB on YouTube

3. 2023 Army-Navy Game (jets and helicopters)

Direct link to video by AStack75 on YouTube

About Air Attack from Bridger Aerospace

 Air attack planes flying fire provide a very important service to keep the air space above a wild fire as various firefighting aircraft enter and depart that airspace. One of the companies that I follow on social media is Bridger Aerospace out of Bozeman Montana. I know that Bridger Aerospace has Scoopers, I was not aware that they also have Pilatus PC-12 aircraft flying air attack. I cam across this Facebook post from Bridger this morning discussing thier air attack aircraft that were recently deployed to Alaska.

Memorial Day: Remembering All Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice

 

Friday Fun: Blue Angels Over Annapolis

 I have been following the aftermath of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Baltimore media where I learned that Blue Angels flew over Annapolis on May 21st. I enjoy watching the Blue Angels and thought that you might too. Here is a four minute video of highlights of their performance.

Direct link to video on YouTube from akbar20777

Coulson C-130 Drop with Lead Plane

 I know that many air tankers work coordinate with a lead plane in making a drop on a wildfire. I enjoyed this two-minute video from Coulson Aviation with a split screen between one of their C-130's and a lead plane including radio transmissions. Enjoy.

Direct link to video from Coulson Aviation on YouTube

About Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS)

Direct link to video from National Interagency Fire Center on YouTube

Several years ago I learned about Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS), automated weather stations located around the United States, where I am able to obtain weather observations. I use weather information from RAWS in addition to the observations that I can obtain from my local Weather Forecast Office. One source of RAWS observations is MesoWest where you can click on a State you are interested in and select "RAWS" in the "network box" on the top left, or you may use the drop down box. For example. I have accessed RAWS data for New Jersey from MesoWest that may be found here. In my explorations just now as I was preparing to write this post, I found a National RAWS Archive for the United States with a clickable map.

To be completely honest while I sometimes use RAWS observations for my own personal information, I am also very interested in how RAWS are used to aid in fire weather forecasts, both permanent RAWS stations and Incident Remote Automated Weather Stations that are used by Incident Meterologists. The National Interagency Fire Center has a network of about 2,200 RAWS stations that includes most of the RAWS sites on MesoWest  used to aid fire weather forecasters among other uses. 

I hope that you have watched or will watch the four minute video from NIFC that I embedded above to learn about how fire weather forecasters and incident meterologists (IMETS) use RAWS and or the portable Incident RAWS (IRAWS). Note the IRAWS are also used for hurricane forecasting, and in responding to other natural or man made disasters.. You may also want to read the NIFC page on RAWS which includes a link to the video on this NIFC webpage. 

79th Anniversary of Lockheed P2 Neptune

Direct link to video from Weapons Detective on YouTube 

Direct link to video from Scorched Sky Productions on YouTube

I lucked out in looking at today's post from Neptune Aviation on  Facebook where they shared that today, May 17th, is the 79th anniversary of the Lockheed P2 Neptune. A great aircraft who did good service during the Cold War and later as an air tanker. I have many posts on the Lockheed P2V tanker that you may find under this tag. I will never forget Neptune Aviations P2V Tankers, I cut my teeth on these Air Tankers when I started this blog in 2009, see this post where I offered my reflections on this Tanker. Neptune Aviation's last P2V Air Tanker was retired in October 2017. 

2024 Wildfire Season: Neptune Aviation Deploying Air Tankers

 I am always interested in when Air Tankers and Helicopters on Contract with the US Forest Service and other Federal and State agencies are deployed to bases for part or all of a fire season. Unfortunately, I have not yet been able to find a listing of Air Tankers on Contract with the US Forest Service for the 2024 wildfire season nor do I have access to helicopters and SEATs on contract with Federal or State Agencies.. This only means that I have no access to such a list, this happens and I do my best to keep my eyes open for such a list and if I find such a list I will post it on my blog. 

In the meantime, thanks to following some Aviation companies who fly fires on Facebook such as Neptune Aviation, I can follow their activities. Neptune Aviation recently posted about two of their tankers that were deployed within the United States, one to Florida (T12) and another to Colorado (T10).

Neptune Aviation T10 to Colorado for the summer

Neptune Aviation T12 to Florida

2024 Wildfire Season: Acadia National Park, Maine

Direct link to video from News Center Maine on YouTube

Thanks my friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page for sharing a short video this morning about a wildfire on St. Sauveur Mountain in Acadia National Park that was reported about 5 PM on Saturday, May 11th, see this post from the Bangor Daily News. I know that a helicopter and bucket from the Maine Forest Rangers flew the fire, I do not know how many drops he made nor do I know the size of the wildfire. I believe but am not certain that the wildfire is extinguished.

Having grown up in Massachusetts and spending time on the coast of Maine as a child and a couple of times as an adult I have am especially fond of Maine. I have only been to Acadia National Park once, as an adult 21 years ago. It was very special to spend a couple of days at the Acadia and see first hand some of the majesty of Acadia, I am sure that are things that I missed. I do not believe that I hiked on St. Sauveru Mountain.

Kudos to all the wildland firefighters on the ground and in the air as well as other fire fighters who responded to the wildfire. 

Pilot Chris Blackie in Ranger 905

Photos from the Maine Forest Rangers of the wildfire at Acadia

About C-130 MAFFS for Aerial Firefighting

 C-130 military aircraft that can be configured as firefighting aircraft with special portable retardant delivery systems, known as Modular Aerial Firefighting System (MAFFS), are a great resource. While these C-130 MAFFS do a lot of work out west when activated, they are a national resource available when there are not enough air tankers and helicopters to work in an area with a lot of wildfires. Currently there are 8 C-130 MAFFS available from four military units: 

152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard, Reno

153rd Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne 

302nd Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve, Peterson Air Force base, Colorado 

146th Airlift Wing, California Air National Guard, Port Hueneme 

For more information about MAFFS as well as a couple of videos see this webpage on MAFFS from the US Forest Fire Service

Thanks to my friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page for sharing a video about MAFFS from KCAL News in southern California. The video is under three minutes and you will learn more about C-130 MAFFS and how they are used.

Direct link to video from KCAL on YouTube

Smoke Jumpers

 Smoke jumpers are an important resource to get wildland firefighters on the ground, often in remote places. Enjoy these two videos about smoke jumpers

1. Smokejumper training 2024

Direct link to video from National Interagency Fire Center on YouTube

2. BLM Smokejumpers working the Trail Canyon Fire (2023)

Direct link to video from National Interagency Fire Center on YouTube

May is National Wildfire Awareness Month

Direct link to video from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) on YouTube 

May is National Wildfire Awareness Month. I have run across the above video previously and may have already shared it. If so, the video has some good information and is easy to understand and is good to see again. 

The following post on Facebook from NIFC contains a link to some good information on wildfire awareness. I followed one of their links to find the video that I shared above. Please be safe during your wildfire season and take the appropriate precautions around your house to be as safe from wildfires as you can.

New Helo Pod deployed in Northern San Diego County CA

Direct link to video from KPBS on YouTube

I have a special place in my heart for helicopters, this is for you Matt, and I am always interested in the different ways that helicopters may refill their tanks if tanker or refill their bucket. I learned of the Helo Pod in San Marcos, CA (northern San Diego County) that you see in the KPBS video the other day when I was perusing Facebook and saw a video from CAL FIRE San Diego of the demonstration of a San Diego County Sheriff's helicopter using the Helo Pod. I believe that I may have read about other Helo Pods in the past several months. This Helo Pod holds 5,000 gallons and can be filled remotely. The idea is that helicopters will be able to access this Helo Pod at any time thus reducing turn around time and saving lives. For more information, see this April 30th article on KPBS.

If you are a fan of watching helicopters work as I am, then you may enjoy this seven minute live video that CAL FIRE San Diego recorded on April 30th and shared on their Facebook page. I enjoyed watching the video and I thought that some of you might enjoy it as well so I am embedding it below.

Single Engine Airtankers Used by the NJ Forest Fire Service

When I was checking out the New Jersey Forest Fire Services Facebook account yesterday, I noted their April 29th post featuring a two minute video about the single engine air tankers (SEAT) that they have on contract during this spring's wildfire season. Thanks to my friends at the B10 NJ Wildfire Page, I know that there is an 800 gallon SEAT based in central New Jersey and a 600 gallon SEAT based in southern NJ. Thanks to this video I learned more about these SEATS and their pilots. I enjoyed this video and hearing from the two SEAT pilots and I hope that you enjoy it.

The video that I share below is posted by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, the parent agency of the NJ Forest Fire Service

Direct link to video from the NJ Dept of Environmental Protection on YouTube