The last time I observed DC-10 air tanker operations (ops) on the Pocatello Airport was in July 2021 (in August 2022, I observed BAE-Avro-RJ85, MD87 and Air Tractor ops).
Sometime between 11 and Noon, flying eastward over the Chubbuck Days Festival.
On 10AUG2024, I was alerted to the DC-10’s presence when they flew low over the Chubbuck Days Festival in Cotant Park.
Ex-NASA DC-8 now serving as Idaho State University’s aviation maintenance aircraft, and further down is another DC-10 being ‘bombed-up’ at the U.S. Forest Service’s air tanker base.
DC-10s and a retired DC-8 (the wind has picked up and is messing with the audio):
The Pocatello Air Tanker Base is one of several U.S. Forest Service operations covering the western United States. Upgrades to the base were completed by Summer 2022, however, the upgrades actually resulted in “minimized capacity”:
The ‘new-to-me’ location of the U.S. Forest Service’s air tanker base, on the eastern end of the airport runway. Near the dirt racing track and skeet shooting range.
The new U.S. Forest Service air base ops building versus the old building, and apparently there was a new fire near the Soda Springs area of Idaho (according to the wildfires.gov website):
15 April 2023 (13:57-UTC-07 Tango 06) 26 Farvardin 1402/24 Ramadan 1444/25 Bing-Chen 4721/15 апреля 2023 года
Wyoming Air National Guard photo by by Senior Airman Edward Hermsen, 11APR2023.
This past week, Air National Guard C-130H MAFFS units from Nevada (152nd Airlift Wing) and Wyoming (153rd Airlift Wing) joined California’s 146th Airlift Wing on Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, for their yearly wildfire preparations.
MAFFS air crews get a quick explanation of how the fire retardant is mixed, Nevada Air National Guard video by Master Sergeant Garrett Wake, 11APR2023:
‘Bombing-up’ and testing your MAFFS, video by Master Sergeant Garrett Wake, 11APR2023:
Water-bombing training was conducted in the Angeles National Forest near Green Valley, California. Personnel from other federal operations such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and CAL FIRE (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection), also took part in the training.
Smoke signaling King Air 250. Nevada Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Paula Macomber, 14APR2023.
King-Air 250 FACs (Forward Air Controllers) lead the MAFFS in, using smoke signals to indicate where to drop the water bomb, video by Master Sergeant Garrett Wake, 12APR2023:
More water bombing video by Master Sergeant Garrett Wake, 12APR2023:
One more in slow motion, video by Master Sergeant Garrett Wake, 12APR2023:
Engine maintenance is always a must, Nevada Air National Guard video by Master Sergeant Garrett Wake, 14APR2023:
Wyoming Air National Guard photo by by Senior Airman Edward Hermsen, 14APR2023.
Nevada Air National Guard video, by Master Sergeant Garrett Wake, unloading MAFFS from C-130H, 14APR2023:
09SEP2022, Moose Fire burns more than 125-thousand acres, largest fire currently in the U.S., been burning since July:
On 09SEP2022, at the request of the NIFC, two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) equipped C-130s were deployed to Boise Airport (Gowen Field) for fire fighting duties. One is a C-130H Hercules (upgraded with the eight bladed prop) from Nevada Air National Guard, the other is a C-130J Super Hercules from California Air National Guard. The last time C-130s went to Boise Airport was in April 2022, for yearly MAFFS training. The two MAFFS equipped C-130s will remain on-station until 08OCT2022, unless another NIFC request is issued.
C-130 aircraft from three National Guard units and a U.S. Air Force Reserve unit arrive on Gowen Field (Boise Airport), Idaho, 20APR2017. California Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Nieko Carzis.
Today, a warning has been issued for those using the Interstate 15 highway, around the Fort Hall Exit between Pocatello and Blackfoot, firefighting efforts could result in highway traffic being halted of diverted. The Idaho Fire Information website ranks the fire as “extreme”, an evacuation order was issued to anybody living in the 2 1/2 Mile Road/East Ross Fork area.
The fire has burned at least 7-thousand acres since the afternoon of 08SEP2022. Fast winds during the night made the fire worse, it is zero percent contained. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a burn ban for federal reservations in Idaho, Oregon and Washington, and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued a Degraded Air Quality warning, and a burn ban for Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Caribou, Franklin, Power and Oneida Counties. The air quality warnings and burn bans are blamed on the numerous fires in the Pacific Northwest.
This is not the first time a wildfire blackened the hills around 2 1/2 Mile Road; 03JUL2013:
This year’s fire season doesn’t seem as profuse as previous years. Don’t tell that to people in Oklahoma, already more than 8-thousand acres (3237 hectares) have burned since 14JUL2022.
KOCO report from 15JUL2022, points out that the fire is negatively affecting a major food source:
Oklahoma Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Anthony Jones, 16JUL2022.
On 16JUL2022, Oklahoma Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawks, and LUH-72 Lakotas, attacked what is called the 702-Fire, in Blaine County.
Oklahoma Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Anthony Jones, 16JUL2022.
The UH-60 can dump more than 6-hundred gallons of water, using its ‘Bambi bucket‘.
Oklahoma Army National Guard photo by Specialist Caleb Stone, 16JUL2022.
Don’t forget about the natural gas refinery in Medford, Oklahoma, that caught fire a week ago:
University of California Riverside, School of Medicine is concerned about fires spreading dusts, soil microbes, allergenic pollens from invasive species, and pollutants:
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Hope Straley, 10MAY2022.
On 10MAY2022, a 657-acre wildfire on U.S. Marine Corps Camp Pendleton was contained.
NEW MEXICO: FEMA Region 6 video, by Daniel Rojas, of fire damage in Ruidoso, 07MAY2022:
U.S. Air Force photo, 11MAY2022.
On 11MAY2022, fire crews from Kirkland Air Force Base deployed to help combat the merged Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak fire. Specifically the four Airman firefighters will be protecting the airfield in Angel Fire, where various firefighting aircraft are operating from. As of 12MAY2022, nearly 260-thousand acres, or more than 370 square miles, have burned. An estimated 12-thousand households have been advised to evacuate.
Angel Fire evacuations:
FEMA Region 6 video, by Daniel Rojas, of fire fighting efforts against the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak fire, 11MAY2022:
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation uses Arizona wildfires to warn Canadians:
CALIFORNIA: Sheep being used to prevent wildfires:
California Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Michelle Ulber, 21APR2022.
It was revealed on 21APR2022, that California Air National Guard increased the size of fire-retardant ground storage tanks on Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Port Hueneme. The new tanks increased the storage capacity from a 10-thousand gallons to 50-thousand gallons, to accommodate more MAFFS (Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System) aircraft and the U.S. Forest Service’s Very Large Air Tankers (VLAT).
Video, by Master Sergeant Nieko Carzis, of California Air National Guard prepping their C-130Js for MAFFS operations, 19APR2022:
Colorado Division of Fire Prevention/Control and the Colorado Army National Guard conclude a more intense fire training:
U.S. Air Force Reserve C-130H transports, on Peterson Space Force Base, are prepped for MAFFS operations, 21APR2022. Music video by Technical Sergeant Justin Norton:
California Air National Guard C-130J tests its MAFFS while on Gowen Field, Idaho, 25APR2022. California Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Michelle Ulber.
Gowen Field, Idaho, conducted 2022 MAFFS training for C-130 crews. (April 2017: MAFFS BOMBS IDAHO!)
Nevada Air National Guard sent two C-130H aircraft to Idaho for MAFFS prepping. Nevada Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Thomas Cox, 26APR2022.
Video of Road 702 wildfire, from 23-24APR2022, by Nebraska State Patrol:
Photo via Captain Joshua Miller.
Nebraska Army National Guard HEWATT (M1158 HEMTT Water Tender) attacks the Road 702 fire, 24APR2022.
Home video, 24APR2022, showing Nebraska Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk dropping water on flames near Willow County homes, a child is heard saying “thank you!”:
Earlier, a U.S. Air Force HMMWV, from F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, got caught in the Road 702 fire and didn’t survive (the crew did survive), USAF video by Airman Landon Gunsauls:
Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Jon Alderman, 06MAY2019.
A California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (Cal Fire, formerly CDF) Bronco flies at tree top level during Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) training and recertification at Grand Canyon Hills, Colorado, 06MAY2019.
An OV-10A uses smoke to ‘lead-in’ the water bombers. Cal-Fire photo.
The OV-10, and other small aircraft, serve as forward air controllers (FAC) for the larger water bombers, picking out the next target and guiding the water bombing in.
Cal-Fire photo.
23JUL2021, Action News Now report (note the reporter uses the incorrect word ‘aircrafts’ while the Cal-Fire official uses the correct word ‘aircraft’) on how smoke from fires can actually ground aircraft:
In 1993, Cal-Fire bought 15 ex-Marines OV-10As (with three blade propellers). They replaced the older O-2As. In 2009, Cal-Fire bought three OV-10Ds (with four blade props and short ‘A’ model nose). OV-10As and OV-10Ds are slowly being upgraded to meet Cal-Fire requirements.
2010 Cal-Fire video report, the Gov’na authorizes more of everything for fighting future fires, plus a new GPS flight tracking system will be used:
Believe it or not, the United States has had military personnel in Kosovo for longer than it has in Iraq or Afghanistan. It’s part of the NATO KFor (Kosovo Force) mission, which began in June 1999.
Currently there are ‘Task Force Valkyrie’ National Guard units from Connecticut and Vermont in Kosovo, but since July they’ve been working a little extra duty fighting wildfires.
KFor video by Staff Sergeant Barbara Pendl, Black Hawk water drops, ground troops fight fires with shovels near Leposavic:
Task Force Valkyrie video (Army National Guard 1-169th Aviation Regiment water drops near Pec) by Sergeant Gloria Kamencik, 31JUL2021:
On 24AUG2021, eighty Washington National Guard personnel were issued wild-land fire fighting gear. They are deploying to assist the Washington State Department of Natural Resources fight the more than 45-thousand acre Summit Trail Fire near Inchelium.
Washington National Guard video by Peter Chang, with interview at the end:
Lightning started the fire on 12JUL2021, as of August 24th it was 45% contained. Evacuation orders have been rescinded.
