South West Fires

[tqmx1]

Guy's and gals, this is what is going on every day.

Enjoy

A Great Airtanker Video

One more

ON LINE/ AIRTANKER VIDEO

[Mark Olson]

awesome vid Kim.

[craigo]

Amen,

Loved that movie "Always" about the air fire fighters.  I also am a BIG Holly Hunter fan.....  What a gal!!!!

CraigO

[big r]

Know what it's like. We went through a fire storm in 2003. We lost our major employer, one small village and about 30,00o acres of timber. The fire came about 150 ft. from my house.

[tqmx1]

This is what the wife does every fire season (some time between summer and fall) This was taken 19 years ago this week the equment ths changed but the job remains the same.

Ride Along in CDF Air Attack 340 Paso Robles (self-narrated)

And if you think it is a nice safe job, think again.

The black irish Band

[Arnie]

These are some very interesting vids of fixed wing fire-fighting ops.  Thanks for posting them.
I've not been in a air-attack fire fight with fixed wing units, but have been working in situations with helicopter water bombers a number of times.  Each has their strengths and weaknesses.  The big fixed wing units can drop a large amount of water and retardant over a pretty lengthy fire frontline, but they must then return to a base to be re-filled.  Their speed allows them to get to far off locations but the turn-around hurts.  The bomber 123 clip said they carried 2,000 gal (about 7500 Litres) and they seem to be able to adjust how much of it is dropped and at what rate.  Australia has/is trialing a DC10 that can carry 30,000 Litres, and this can lay down a wet line of more than a mile.
I've been underneath one of the Erikson Sky-Crane helos which can carry 9,000 Litres and drop it in 1/3rds.  They fly at treetop level, so are much closer therefore (hopefully) more accurate.  They flyover on a sighting run with sirens ON (to warn us to get our asses out of the way) and then come back, turn the helo on its side and "throw" the water and retardant at the fire sideways.
One of the great advantages is that they can refill from any open source of water like a river or lake or even a farm dam or swimming pool.  They drop a "snorkel that's about a foot in diameter into the water and suck up 9,000 Litres in under a minute!!!  This cuts the turnaround time significantly!  The smaller helicopters can use either a smaller tank unit or a "bucket" thats dropped into the water.
All have their place and especially in remote hilly country that is difficult to access with trucks, they can "knock down" a big fire and delay its spread until we can get there to mop up and finish the job.
One thing I didn't understand is why they let all those cars stay on the road in that active fire zone.

Cheers,
Arnie