Category Archives: Idaho

WMD: Idaho’s All Hazards Environment

“Idaho National Lab has access to training aids for radiological scenarios, safety staff and training facilities for the scenarios we presented to the students. We worked in radiologically contaminated environments and in high radiation fields.”-Captain Daniel W. Arguello, 1st Area Medical Laboratory, 44th Medical Brigade, 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command, U.S. Army

U.S. Army photo, 17AUG2021.

In the middle of the Arco Desert, in Eastern Idaho, lies the U.S. Department of Energy’s 890-square-mile Idaho National Laboratory (INL).  The INL has offices in the city of Idaho Falls (known as Idaho Falls Campus), but the actual 890 square mile site (known as Desert Site Facilities) is located in the Arco Desert, about 50 miles west of Idaho Falls. It’s interesting that Google Maps does not show the actual INL site, just the offices in Idaho Falls. Google Maps does show EBR-1, the world’s first nuclear reactor (and site of the world’s first deadly nuclear meltdown), which is part of the 890 square mile INL site.

Due to the decades of radiation contamination on the INL site, it has become the logical choice for training military personnel on how to deal with radiation contamination environments: “The focus of the training is to train Army and sister service personnel to respond to accidents and incidents involving radiation or radioactive materials, conduct radioactive source recovery operations and provide radiological site assessments of areas suspected to be contaminated with radioactive material.”-First Lieutenant Joshua D. Salazar, 1st Area Medical Laboratory, 44th Medical Brigade, 20th CBRNE Command, U.S. Army

In the middle of August, 2021, the annual Radiological Hazards Operations Course (known to FEMA as a HOT [Hands On Training] Course) was taught by the U.S. Army’s First Lieutenant Joshua D. Salazar and Captain Daniel W. Arguello.  They are with the 20th CBRNE Command, which is headquartered on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.  The training is a way of preparing for future warfare: “Through this course, these outstanding health physicists are helping to keep our military ready to fight and win in an all hazards environment.”-Colonel Matt Grieser, 1st Area Medical Laboratory, 44th Medical Brigade, 20th CBRNE Command, U.S. Army

The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) used to be known as INEEL, before that INEL, before that ERDA and before that NRTS.  The name changes coincide with changes in government agencies and contractors who run the site.  You can actually take a tour of the historical and deadly site.

July 2021: More than 2-thousand drums of nuclear waste being sent from INL to WIPP

May 2021: INL meets agreement to store used naval nuclear fuel

INL to overhaul test reactor

2020: Sisters remember living on INL Arco desert site during World War Two 

2017: INL groundbreaking for new Spent Fuel Handling Facility

Radiation Fall-Out 2016: $1.6-billion estimated cost for new spent fuel handling facility

I-N-L ADMITS ITS RADIATION DETECTORS DON’T WORK!

Radiation Fall-Out 2015: I-N-L ADMITS “NOBODY REALLY KNOWS WHAT’S GOING ON.”

Radiation Fall-Out 2014: I-N-L VIOLATES OWN RULES!

2011: ROBOT FROM I-N-L NOW WORKING AT FUKUSHIMA NUKE DISASTER SITE

I-N-L OFFICIAL STATEMENTS are OMINOUSLY SIMILAR TO STATEMENTS MADE BY JAPANESE NUCLEAR OFFICIALS

IDAHO MAN ESCAPES FUKUSHMIA DAIICHI NUCLEAR PLANT

Lead-lined train in the Arco desert in Eastern Idaho, photo by Alexander Hutchins, April 2011.

GHOSTLY NUKE TRAIN ROLLIN’ ‘CROSS IDAHO DESERT

HTRE-3, photo by Alexander Hutchins, April 2011.

ANCIENT NUCLEAR POWERED JET ENGINE FOUND IN IDAHO DESERT, PROOF OF ANCIENT ALIEN VISITORS?

U.S. Wildfire 2021: Idaho update, 15 August

List of links to reports about the latest Idaho wildfire operations, as of 15AUG2021:

Idaho ranchers say ash from wildfires destroying already drought damaged food sources for cattle, must now kill-off cows! 

Lawsuit alleges federal government fire prevention tactics, in the Pacific Northwest states, is harming wildlife.

Wildfire survival tips for animals in Idaho.

Idaho Department of Environmental Quality bans outdoor burning in Treasure Valley.

Fire in Idaho Falls started by man who jumped onto a live power-line transformer!

Idaho Falls house fire sends one person to the hospital. 

Idaho Department of Lands creates new GIS fire map.

Senators warn of aviation fuel shortage hampering fire fighting in Idaho.

Massachusetts fire fighters deploy to Montana and Idaho.

Federal Bureau of Land Management claims to have ‘below average’ number of fires on BLM lands in Idaho. 

Lewiston, Idaho, evacuated!

Bedrock Fire near Lenore, 12AUG2021. Photo by Peter Caster/Lewiston Tribune.

Bedrock Fire now more than 9-thousand acres!

Nez Perce County Emergency Management orders evacuations, 14AUG2021!

Idaho’s Dixie Fire 63% contained.

Granite Pass Fire more than 5-thousand acres, only 15% contained!

Video of smoked Salmon, and I don’t mean fish, 11AUG2021:

National Guard vehicles near the Cougar Rock Complex.

Idaho’s Cougar Rock Fire, Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry takes command on 12AUG2021.   It should be noted that the ten wildfires making up the Cougar Rock Complex were all started by lightning.

Quick Idaho Department of Transportation video of water bombing of Mission Flats Fire, 12AUG2021:

Video of privately operated CH-47 Chinook filling Bambi Bucket from an Idaho river on 11AUG2021:

U.S. Wildfire 2021: IDAHO ORDERS U.S. NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT TO WESTERN FIRES!

U.S. Wildfires 2021: Idaho Red Card Militia deploys!

“Today marked yet another milestone in the proud history of the Idaho National Guard as wildland firefighter ground crews mobilized and deployed to support the growing wildland fire threats across our state.”-Brigadier General Russ Johnson, Idaho National Guard Joint Staff

Idaho Army National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur.

On 04AUG2021, sixteen Idaho Air and Army National Guard personnel, who are federal Type 2 Red Card (Incident Qualification Card) certified, were deployed to assist the Idaho Department of Lands battle at least 15 wildfires across the Gem State.

To be Red Card certified means you’re literally are given a red card saying you are qualified to fight wildfires. IANG photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur.

72 Idaho state militia personnel are Red Card certified: “We are currently training more Soldiers and Airmen as they volunteer for this mission in the hopes of building a large capacity consisting of several hand crews.”-Lieutenant Colonel Tony Vincelli, Task Force Timber Shield

IANG photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur.

Two Idaho National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters have also been fighting fires, dropping more than 205-thousand gallons since July 13th.

An Idaho 1-183rd Aviation Battalion Black Hawk deployed to fight fires in California, in 2020. California Air National Guard photo by Captain Jason Sanchez.

Eight militia members have also been providing logistical support since July 21st, at the Idaho Fire Cache warehouse in Coeur d’Alene.

IANG photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur.

U.S. Wildfires 2021: FOR FIRST TIME, IDAHO MOBILIZES MILITIA FOR FIRE DUTY!

OREGON MOBILIZES FOR RED CARD!

WYOMING & COLORADO ACTIVATES MAFFS, NEVADA’S MAFF MISSION EXTENDED!

Biden’s Borderland: Refugee Policy pisses-off NATO members! Record # of Children & Drugs!

Welcome to borderland hell under the new U.S. President, incomplete list of links to news/government agency reports as of 09 August 2021:

NATO member Turkey announced it will not cooperate with Biden’s new Afghan refuge policy.  The Biden admin specifically told Afghans to travel to NATO member/partner countries, where the U.S. military would pick them up.  However, Turkish officials say Biden’s people never told them: “Turkey will not take over the international responsibilities of third countries!”-Tanju Bilgic, Turkish Foreign Ministry

U.S. Coast Guard photo.

The U.S. Coast Guard says it captured 14 illegals from Cuba in this little boat, near the Bahamas, on 27JUL2021.  The Cubans were sent home on 29JUL2021.

Despite the Canadian pandemic border lockdown, Canada now says it needs 401-thousand immigrants to cross their border with the U.S., to save their economy! 

Despite New Zealand’s pandemic lockdown, a U.S. citizen co-founder of Google was able to get approval to become a resident of New Zealand!  

18% of U.S./Mexico border crossing families tested positive for the pandemic, after leaving Border Patrol custody!

Panama and Colombia signed a deal to help illegals to get to the United States! 

More than 8-hundred children captured in one day! 

ARIZONA: U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel use a Black Hawk (spending lots of your money) to rescue an illegal from Guatemala, stranded on the Baboquivari Mountains, 26JUL2021:

CALIFORNIA: Migrant camp now becoming home to homeless and drug dealers! 

CONNECTICUT: Illegals trapped inside hospitals?

FLORIDA: 

On 05AUG2021, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter James conducts largest illegal narcotic offload in Coast Guard history, worth more than $1.4-billion at Port Everglades!

MONTANA: Flathead cherries brought to you by migrant workers. 

NEW MEXICO: Town of Sunland Park overrun with 9-1-1 calls connected to illegals! 

Uber and Lyft involved in human trafficking? Police say they are overwhelmed! 

NEW YORK: NYC’s radical non-citizen voting plan.

OHIO: Non-citizen facing voter fraud charges after illegally voting in the 2020 elections!

TEXAS: Illegal immigrant dies in custody.

10 illegals die in vehicle crash!

Mysterious ‘catch & release’ program revealed!

Five illegals captured after car chase ends in crash!

14 illegals captured in Rio Grande Valley sector! 

WASHINGTON: Farmer has to shell-out more than $2-million to improve working conditions for migrant workers after several CoViD-19 deaths!

Washington DC: Farm operations in Idaho and Oregon admit that more than half their migrant workers are illegal!  Farmers demand U.S. government make it easier for illegals to become legal!

Revealed, Biden admin returns to Trump pandemic policy of flying border crossers deep into Mexico, due to new Delta pandemic fears! 

The Office of Refugee Resettlement has asked federal employees to volunteer their time to head to the border with Mexico to assist with caring for the masses of children who came across the border without parents/relatives. Volunteers deploy for up to 120 days to supervise children, assess their needs, conduct interviews, and use the National Call Center to contact biological relatives within the United States.  Oh, don’t worry, apparently the volunteers can apply to get reimbursed at taxpayer expense, and travel expenses are covered by the taxpayers as well!

Biden expands his once secret Afghan refugee operation, to include not only Afghans who directly worked with U.S. combat units, but to any Afghan who has worked for the U.S. government, U.S. contractors or U.S. based charities! 

Biden’s War, July 2021: SECRET NEW AFGHAN-AFRICAN REFUGEE OPERATION REVEALED!

Biden’s Borderland, 09 July 2021: INDEPENDENCE?

Mother of all Money Pits: YET MORE TOYOTAS FOR IRAQ, COURTESY OF YOU! $50-MILLION IN PAYCHECKS FOR KURDS!

Denton Program Failure: CANADIAN FIRE TRUCKS, U.S. AIR FORCE, CENTRAL AMERICA

Biden’s War: Idaho gets ‘smart’ artillery rounds, reveals “upcoming mobilizations”

“Receiving the PGK NET was a great opportunity that will enhance the battalion and the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team’s lethality on the battlefield.  We purposely sought to field the PGK prior to the brigade’s upcoming mobilizations. If the PGK capability exists in the theater of operations we end up in, then our soldiers will be trained to employ it and bring a precision capability to the fight.”-Lieutenant Colonel Eric Orcutt, 1st Battalion 148th Field Artillery Regiment

Idaho Army National Guard photo by Crystal Farris.

The Idaho Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion of the 148th Field Artillery Regiment (FAR), headquartered in Pocatello, learned how to use ‘smart’ artillery projectiles known as the M1156 Precision Guidance Kit (PKG).

During the last two weeks of July 2021, the 1-148 FAR was in next door Wyoming, on Camp Guernsey, for annual ‘summer camp’ training.  The ‘smart’ projectiles they were launching through their M1096A6 Paladin 155mm gun tubes uses aerodynamic fins on the fuze to steer the projectile on target.  If the smart projectile happens to be not so smart and impacts outside 150 meters of the target area, it won’t explode.

Not only does PKG make artillery projectiles more accurate, it’s hoped that accuracy will save taxpayers some money by not needing as many ‘dumb’ projectiles.

Round=projectile+case

Projectile=bullet, shot, slug

Cartridge Case=case or shell containing propellant

The M1096A6 Paladin gun does not use a cartridge case on its projectiles, instead it uses combustible bags, or combustible solid casings, of propellant shoved in behind the projectile.

The 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, of which the 148th FAR is a part of, is scheduled for deployment in 2022 (apparently the location is still hush-hush, and this is despite President Biden’s pull-out from Afghanistan and his order to cease combat ops in Iraq).

Vehicle I-D:

1-116th Cav, 1-148th FA, Pocatello, Idaho. Photo by AAron B. Hutchins.

1-148 FIELD ARTILLERY GATE GUARDS

M109A7 PALADIN, ANOTHER ‘TOOL’ OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE!

July 2021:  SINGAPORE TESTS IDAHO’S NEW D-A-G-I-R SYSTEM

Biden’s War:  SECRET NEW AFGHAN-AFRICAN REFUGEE OPERATION REVEALED!

World War Three 2014: “THIS IS WHERE ARMOR FIGHTS!” IDAHO NATIONAL GUARD RETURNS TO COLD WAR ERA ‘TOTAL FORCE’ WARFARE TRAINING! (with some photos of my 13 years history with the military)

Pocatello Airport, IDAHO ARMY NATIONAL GUARD M109

Singapore Apaches test Idaho’s new D-A-G-I-R system

At the beginning of 2021, the Idaho Army National Guard became the first Guard unit in the United States to employ the new DAGIR gunnery range system.

Gowen Field, Idaho, 23JUL2021. Idaho Army National Guard photo by Thomas Alvarez.

Between June 30th and July 29th, the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s Peace Vanguard unit conducted AH-64 Longbow Apache gunnery on the Orchard Combat Training Center for the tenth year now, but this time they got to use Idaho’s new DAGIR system: “The scoring is instantaneous. The second a target is hit, we know about it. It’s a great feature because sometimes you’re not sure if the round went through the target or not.”-Lieutenant Colonel Jack Denton, U.S. Army Flight Training Detachment

Idaho ArNG photo by Thomas Alvarez, 23JUL2021.

The RSAF Peace Vanguard is based on the Arizona National Guard’s Silverbell Army Heliport, where they’ve been flying eight AH-64Ds since 2001.

Idaho ArNG photo by Thomas Alvarez, 23JUL2021.

Idaho’s Orchard Combat Training Center has at least 23 gunnery/bombing ranges.  Currently it is one of only two DAGIR ranges in the entire U.S.

NATO:  APACHES & HINDS, FOR THE FIRST TIME?

April 2021: IDAHO HOME TO FIRST EVER NATIONAL GUARD D-A-G-I-R!

March 2021: SINGAPORE’S IDAHO BASED SKY PIRATES BOMB LAS VEGAS?

2016: OBAMA DISAPPEARS THE LAST OF IDAHO’S APACHES?

U.S. Wildfires 2021: Wyoming & Colorado activates MAFFS, Nevada’s MAFF mission extended!

“The request for additional support shows just how challenging this fire season is and how critical our MAFFS aircraft, aircrews and maintenance personnel are to supporting NIFC [National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho].”-Colonel Jeremy Ford, 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard

Wyoming ANG photo by Technical Sergeant Jon Alderman.

On 19JUL2021, a Wyoming Air National Guard (ANG) C-130H MAFFS (Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System) was activated, and on 20JUL2021 was sent to battle wildfires in California.

Wyoming ANG photo by Technical Sergeant Jon Alderman.

The C-130H has been upgraded with a new propeller system.

Wyoming ANG photo by Technical Sergeant Jon Alderman.

Wyoming ANG video by Jacqueline Marshall, 19JUL2021:

Wyoming ANG photo by Technical Sergeant Jon Alderman.

Also on 19JUL2021, Colorado ANG activated a MAFFS to fight the fires in California.  Music video announcement by Staff Sergeant Laura Fitsmorris:

Earlier in the month, one California ANG C-130 MAFFS, and two Nevada ANG ‘High Rollers’ C-130 MAFFS began fighting fires in California.

CAL FIRE Air Tanker Base, McClellan Park. Nevada ANG photo by Senior Master Sergeant Paula Macomber.

Nevada’s ‘High Rollers’ just had their mission in California extended until August 26th!

MAFFS aircraft are only activated when it becomes clear that the private sector water bombers are overwhelmed, or will soon be, by the volume of wildfires.

NIFC in Boise, Idaho, warns that ‘Scary Fuel’ shortage could ground firefighting aircraft.

U.S. Wildfires 2021: Wyoming governor waves federal pandemic restrictions to ease aviation fuel shortage for water bombers

K-MAX & 10 TANKER, WAITING FOR THE CALL IN SOUTHEAST IDAHO

Boise River Photography Journal July 20th 2021

Chicory ©Satoita

Chicory ©Satoita

On Tuesday last week, I went for a stroll along the Boise River here in Boise, Idaho. To my delight, all the plants have tripled in size since I saw them last, about two months ago. They’ve grown considerably; the bare gravel river banks are now nearly covered in growth. It was a fun trek through all the leaves, sand, gravel, water, and several spider webs. One could follow the sound of the river through the thick green walls of natural labyrinth.

Spotted Knapweed ©Satoita

There are plenty of useful plants here, which were most likely intentionally planted. This part of the Boise River is technically the Boise River Park, and is maintained by the Parks and Recreation department. I really appreciate their methods of leaving it pretty much alone save for repairing water erosion and cleaning up human disturbances. I’m grateful we have the Greenbelt here where we can visit a bit of wildlife in the middle of the city. In Japan, research has proven that taking time to just be in nature is beneficial to all areas of our health. Doctors now prescribe Shirin Roku, or Forest Bathing, to reduce stress, which is the cause of a myriad of health problems. In addition, many of these plants that grow wild and may be considered weeds are actually medicinal and are a good source of minerals and vitamins.

white flowering plant ©Satoita

St. John’s Wort ©Satoita

Mullein ©Satoita

This Mullein is the cutest one I’ve seen. It’s only one foot tall! I was collecting mullein flowers to create a cough syrup. I’ve put them in sugar to ferment in a jar for a few weeks in the sun. I’m really curious to see if this works come fall!

Purple Loosestrife ©Satoita

Catmint ©Satoita

Chicory ©Satoita

Mullein ©Satoita

Mullein ©Satoita

Purple Loosestrife ©Satoita

Chicory ©Satoita

Tiny Stream ©Satoita

Boise River Bank ©Satoita

Downy Woodpecker on a Mullein ©Satoita

Evening Primrose ©Satoita

Yellow Brooms ©Satoita

Marsh Willowherb ©Satoita

Blue Water Speedwell ©Satoita

Armenian Blackberry ©Satoita

Bittersweet Nightshade ©Satoita

If I mislabeled any plants, or if you can identify the two I didn’t know, please leave a comment below!

’till next time,

SATOITA

Marsh Crossing ©Satoita

Sentimental Journey: 1986-2021

In July 2021, Sentimental Journey returned to the Pocatello Regional Airport, in Southeast Idaho.  It seems I always cross paths with this ancient restored aircraft, from the two decades when it was flown by the Confederate Air Force, to today’s Commemorative Air Force (just call it CAF).

Topping off the tanks.

Old meets new as modern day Challenger and Mustang drive out for a photo opportunity.

Staging the Challenger and Mustang.

Now it’s the people’s turn.

The people are so interested in the old bomber they don’t seem to notice the giant DC-10 water bomber that just landed.

If you had enough money you could get a ride in the B-17G bomber. Notice the K-Max firefighting helicopter in the background, lots of smoke in the air.

In March 2018, Sentimental Journey took part in CAF’s Tora, Tora, Tora display, over Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Tyler J. Bolken.

02OCT2012, at the War Eagles Air Museum, Doña Ana County Airport, New Mexico. Photo by Sergeant Jonathan Thomas.

U.S. Air Force video by Sergeant Adam Ross, getting ‘sentimental’ over the B-17, October 2012:

May 2001: Confederate Air Force has grown to more than nine thousand members in 27 states and three countries, however, many (‘woke’) members hate the name

November 2000: Confederate Air Force to change its Name due to the insidious ‘political correctness’ movement

Summer 1999, Pocatello Regional Airport.  My children Denise M. Hutchins, Aryssa M. Hutchins, Alexander B. Hutchins and Jennette McKay-Schow.

Nose gunner/bombardier station.

Alex loves .50-cals.

Denise’s .50-cal just jammed, Alex looks concerned!  The Japanese Zeros are swarming!

I don’t remember having to pay to tour the B-17G, but I did buy these Sentimental souvenirs, and a T-shirt which I wore-out long ago.

Me.

1991, ‘Don’t Mess with the Texas Confederate Air Force’ video:

December 1986: A Navigator’s final B-17 flight in Sentimental Journey

My immediate family’s connection to Sentimental Journey began in Summer 1986, when the restored flying fortress visited Edwards Air Force Base, California.  Photos by my father William Lewis Hutchins.

My baby brother Ernst F. Hutchins.

U.S. Air force photo by a Staff Sergeant Simons.

From 27APR1986, over Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, during the Gathering of Eagles ’86 tour.

According to CAF, the B-17G that became Sentimental Journey spent the last few months of World War Two over the Pacific.  After the war it was converted to serve as a boat carrying Search And Rescue plane out of Florida.  In the 1950s it was used as a drone controller during nuclear weapons tests.  In 1959, it went to the Bone Yard in Arizona, but shortly after that it was purchased by a firefighting company in California.  Sentimental Journey still uses the registration number assigned while it was a fire fighter.  In 1978 the B-17 water bomber was donated to the Arizona chapter of the CAF.  The name Sentimental Journey was the result of a local newspaper holding a contest for the name. The Arizona CAF members restored Sentimental Journey to its World War Two bomber configuration.  Amazingly, Sentimental Journey was fully restored as a bomber and flying air shows by the end of 1985/beginning of 1986.

1982, half hour long documentary explaining the reason for the Confederate Air Force-Ghost Squadron:

1981, British made hour long documentary explaining that the Confederate Air Force-Ghost Squadron was led by a totally made-up Confederate officer named Colonel Culpepper, and why the CAF was originally created.  Notice that at the beginning of the film one of the members says …we shouldn’t apologize to anybody in the world for what we are or what we’ve been.”:

1963: THE CONFEDERATE AIR FORCE FLIES AT LAST

HOW TO PAINT YOUR 1:1 SCALE B-17 MEMPHIS BELLE WITH ‘PERIOD CORRECT’ (correctly mixed that is, 1940s style) PAINT

Pocatello Airport 1999, 2012 & 2014: Section Eight & Ole Yeller flies on

U.S. Wildfire 2021: K-Max & 10 Tanker, waiting for the call

When the wildfire season officially starts in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, little used Pocatello Regional Airport becomes Pocatello Airtanker Base.

Idaho Wildfires 2012:

Photo by AAron B. Hutchins, 2012.

CANADAIR CL 215

This year (despite the hype by main-stream national news), and the past few years, Pocatello Airtanker Base hasn’t been as busy as it was between the years 2012 and 2017. We had a plethora of water bombers, various types of fixed wing and rotary wing, some even coming from Canada.

A couple of BAEs and an ancient Neptune, September 2012. Photo by AAron B. Hutchins.

Pocatello Tanker Base 2012:

Photo by AAron B. Hutchins, 2012.

SIKORSKY & USMC IN TOWN

The area is still getting smoked-out by regional fires, but nothing like the amount of smoke during the 2012-2018 years.  In 2018 the smoke from record setting California fires was bad enough that I taped furnace filters to my windows (I don’t have central air conditioning).  So since about 2019, most of what you see on Pocatello Airtanker Base are a DC-10, a helicopter or two, and the always present Air Tractors.

On 23JUL2021, I just happened to be checking out the airport and caught the crew of a Mountain West Helicopters K-Max, waiting for a call to action, sitting near the tarmac in 90+ Fahrenheit temperatures.

Video from 2008, Mountainwest Helicopters K-Max using Bambi Bucket during Piute Mountain wildfire:

Lockheed Martin video showing a K-Max drone (remote control, no pilot) dropping water on a fire:

And I was lucky enough to just catch a glimpse of a DC-10 returning from a water-drop mission.

Kit builders should note the noticeable gap between the water tank and the fuselage.

Also notice that 10 Tanker has given their DC-10s a new livery.

2020 video of 10 Tanker #911 bombing a fire near homes in California:

2016 video of 10 Tanker training in New Mexico, note that the big water bombers are led-in by smaller FAC aircraft:

U.S. Wildfires 2021: Wyoming governor waves federal pandemic restrictions to ease aviation fuel shortage for water bombers

FOR FIRST TIME, IDAHO MOBILIZES MILITIA FOR FIRE DUTY!

Idaho Wildfires 2019:

DC-10, IDAHO’S 911

U.S. Forest Service FAC (Forward Air Controller) taking off from Pocatello Airtanker Base. Photo by AAron B. Hutchins.

MD-87 WATER BOMBER, NEW KING AIR F-A-C

Pocatello Airtanker Base 2017:

Photo by AAron B. Hutchins, August 2017.

SMOKE ’EM IF YOU GOT ’EM! THE FIRE BOMBERS ARE BACK!

U.S. Wildfires 2016: DC-10 POCATELLO AIRPORT

Pocatello Air Tanker Base, September 2012:  MORE AIR TANKERS ARRIVE AT POCATELLO TANKER BASE. EVACUATIONS IN EFFECT!

MORE CANADIAN AIRCRAFT ARRIVE AT POCATELLO

CONAIR’s Convair, notice the retardant stains, from the day before, have been cleaned off. Photo by AAron B. Hutchins.

CANADA JOINS THE FIGHT 

Pocatello Air Tanker Base, August 2012:

MAFFS 5 gets airborne! Photo by AAron B. Hutchins.

MAFFS C-130s RETURN TO POCATELLO AIRPORT, IDAHO NATIONAL GUARD JOINS BATTLE!

12 July 2012:

Comin’ down! Photo by AAron B. Hutchins.

BUSY 30 MINUTES AT POCATELLO AIRPORT, AS A VARIETY OF FIRE FIGHTING AIRCRAFT FLY INTO ACTION