Tag Archives: fire

U.S.

U.S. Wildfires, 2021: Beckwourth Complex, MAFFS joins the fight

Video July 10, 2021 Hutchins AAron

According to the U.S. National Interagency Fire Center, 57 fires have burned 667-thousand-346 acres across Arizona, California, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon and Washington, as of 10JUL2021.

08JUL2021. Nevada Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Paula Macomber.

In Northern California there is a complex of fires that have been ongoing, and difficult to combat, known as Beckwourth. It’s so frustrating that the California and Nevada Air National Guards are now involved in that combat.

Nevada Air National Guard C-130, MAFFS 9 out of Reno, near Frenchman Lake 09JUL2021. Nevada ANG photo by Senior Master Sergeant Paula Macomber.

A single C-130 MAFFS from the California ANG, and two C-130 MAFFS from Nevada ANG, began bombing runs in the Frenchman Lake area, on 09JUL2021.

Nevada ANG photo by Senior Master Sergeant Paula Macomber.

California National Guard video report by Master Sergeant David Loeffler, MAFFS joins the fight:

California: MAFFS PREP WILDFIRE 2021

Lone S-64 Skycrane water-dropper, near Frenchman Lake, 08JUL2021. Nevada ANG photo by Senior Master Sergeant Paula Macomber.

Beckwourth Complex Fire Morning Update July 9, 2021

Privately operated DC-10 near Frenchman Lake, 09JUL2021. Nevada ANG photo by Senior Master Sergeant Paula Macomber.

Privately operated BAe 146 near Frenchman Lake, 09JUL2021. Nevada ANG photo by Senior Master Sergeant Paula Macomber.

Privately operated MD-87 near Frenchman Lake, 09JUL2021. Nevada ANG photo by Senior Master Sergeant Paula Macomber.

U.S. Wildfire Prep, 2021: OREGON MOBILIZES FOR RED CARD!

U.S. Wildfires, 2021: SIERRA FIRE

Idaho, 2019:

Photo by AAron B. Hutchins.

DC-10, IDAHO’S 911

Photo by AAron B. Hutchins.

Erickson MD-87 WATER BOMBER at Pocatello

Idaho, 2012:

Operated by Erickson Air-Crane fire fighting service.

SIKORSKY SKYCRANE LEAVES POCATELLO AIRPORT FOR COX’S WELL FIRE

Ducks in a row. BAe 146-200s and the old Convair CV580, at Pocatello airport during Idaho’s 2012 wildfire outbreaks. Photo by AAron B. Hutchins.

MORE CANADIAN BAe 146 ARRIVE AT POCATELLO

U.S.

U.S. Wildfire prep 2021: Oregon mobilizes for Red Card!

Image June 27, 2021 Hutchins AAron

Camp Rilea, Warrenton, Oregon. Oregon National Guard photo by Master Sergeant John Hughel.

Oregon National Guard photo by Master Sergeant John Hughel, 24JUN2021.

From 21 through 25 June, 2021, the Oregon National Guard conducted federal level Red Card (Incident Qualification Card) wildfire training for more than 110 militia personnel, apparently the last group to go through the Red Card training for 2021: “Everyone being trained this week is one of the last groups we have prepared for the season. We’ll have over 5-hundred people ready to go if we get called up, so right now is just coordinating all the moving pieces, going from the classroom stage to the final hands-on live burn exercise before we send everybody home.”-Master Sergeant Chris Ross

Oregon National Guard photo by Master Sergeant John Hughel, 24JUN2021.

During the pandemic-panic-attack of 2020, the U.S. state of Oregon suffered devastating wildfires; more than one million acres (404686 hectares) of land burned, including homes and businesses, 11 people killed. The Oregon National Guard supplements fire fighting efforts by the Oregon Department of Forestry.

Oregon National Guard photo by Master Sergeant John Hughel, 24JUN2021.

Oregon National Guard video by Master Sergeant John Hughel:

Oregon National Guard photo by Master Sergeant John Hughel.

Widlfires 2021: U.S. ARMY SPENDS YOUR MONEY BUILDING FIRE STATIONS IN FAR EASTERN EUROPE!

U.S. Wildfires 2021: SIERRA FIRE

U.S. Wildfire prep 2021: ALASKA AIRBORNE RED CARD

Rogue One ExEval: OREGON MASS-CASUALTY EVENT!

Technology, U.S.

U.S. Wildfire prep, 2021: Alaska airborne Red Card

Video June 21, 2021 Hutchins AAron

“If we didn’t do this training to get the federal Red Card certification, we wouldn’t be able to support the state in every possible scenario. This gives the state the full flexibility to use resources in the National Guard regardless of who’s managing the fire.”-Lieutenant Colonel Michele Edwards, Alaska Army National Guard

Alaska Army National Guard photo by Specialist Grace Nechanicky.

Red Card is also known as Incident Qualification Card, it is a type of fire fighting training that is accepted by various federal and state agencies. Alaska Army National Guard CH-47 and UH-60 helicopter crews conducted Red Card training on 09JUN2021.

Alaska ANG photo by Specialist Grace Nechanicky.

1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, CH-47 Chinook dragging a 2-thousand-gallon Bambi bucket: “There are no civilian helicopters in state that provide the high-volume, heavy lifts that our CH-47s provide.”-Lieutenant Colonel Michele Edwards, Alaska ANG

Alaska Army National Guard Red Card promotional video by Victoria Granado:

Alaska ANG photo by Dana Rosso.

1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment UH-60 Black Hawk hoisting a 550-gallon Bambi bucket over Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

Video by Victoria Granado, Alaska ANG Bambi bucket ops:

U.S. Wildfire prep, 2021: CAL FIRE + CAL GUARD + PRISONERS

U.S. Wildfire prep, 2021: EVERGREEN STATE RED CARD

U.S.

U.S. Wildfires, 2021: Sierra Fire

Video June 18, 2021 Hutchins AAron

As expected, 2021 is turning out to big a big fire year for The Golden State, yet another U.S. military base evacuated due to wildfire.

Sierra Fire, 09JUN2021. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Kerstin Roberts.

Not even a month after attempts were made to reduce chances of wildfire, with prescribed burns and training, personnel onboard the U.S. Marine Corps’ Camp Pendleton had to evacuate due to the Sierra wildfire.

S-64E Skycrane. USMC photo by Lance Corporal Kerstin Roberts.

San Diego Sheriff’s Department Bell 205. USMC photo by Lance Corporal Kerstin Roberts.

U.S. Marine Corps video by Corporal Stephen Beard, 1-thousand acres (405 hectares) Sierra Fire, 09-11 June 2021:

The Sierra Fire came despite efforts in May, and early June, to reduce the chance of wildfires.

Prescribed burns, 14MAY2021. USMC photo by Lance Corporal Drake Nickels.

Camp Pendleton Fire Department, and other local agencies, burned more than 120 acres in what’s called prescribed burns, over two days in May. Prescribed burn explainer video by Lance Corporal Daniel Medina:

Then at the beginning of June, wildfire training was held for both military and civilian fire fighters. Interestingly, the Wildland Fire School ended on the same day the Sierra Fire started; June 9th.

Wildland Fire School, 08JUN2021. USMC photo by Corporal Fatima Villatoro.

‘Nat-sound’ video of Wildland Fire School by Lance Corporal Daniel Medina:

U.S. Wildfires, 2021: INTANKO fire evacuates Beale Air Force Base

U.S. Wildfire preps, 2021: CAL FIRE + CAL GUARD + PRISONERS

Wildfire 2020: USMC SNO-CATS FLEE SLINK FIRE

East Idaho Wildfires 2012:

Gettin’ ‘er done!

MAINTENANCE DAY FOR SKYCRANE FIRE FIGHTER @ POCATELLO AIRPORT

U.S.

U.S. Wildfire preps, 2021: Cal Fire + Cal Guard + Prisoners

Video June 18, 2021 Hutchins AAron

HH-60 Pave Hawk practices water drops, 24APR2021. Cal Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Christian Jadot.

Already this year, between January first and April 25th, Cal Fire (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) has responded to wildfires that have burned 2,219 acres (898 hectares).

Allen Helibase near Sutter Creek. Cal Guard photo by Senior Airman Melanie L. Nolen.

Between the end of April and end of May 2021, Cal Fire, the California Air and Army National Guard (Cal Guard), and even the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DepCor) joined-up for interagency fire fighting training at several locations through out The Golden State, however, this training was originally planned to take place in 2020: “We had to cancel the event last year due to the pandemic….”-Lieutenant Colonel John Allen, California Army National Guard

Cal Guard explainer video by Staff Sergeant Eddie Siguenza:

Cal Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Christian Jadot.

A California Army National Guard CH-47 about to strap-on a Bambi bucket.

Allen Helibase near Sutter Creek. Cal Guard photo by Senior Airman Melanie L. Nolen.

Millerton Training Site in Friant, 12MAY2021. Cal Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Eddie Siguenza.

Cal Fire, Cal Guard and DepCor ground crews went through CAL FIRE Type II initial attack training, which included the use of fire shelters, creating fire safety lines, debris clearing, and long hikes with heavy loads into hard to get at areas (you know, infantry stuff).

Cal Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Eddie Siguenza.

Cal Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Eddie Siguenza.

Cal Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Eddie Siguenza.

Prison fire fighters with DepCor are indicated by their orange suits.

U.S. Wildfire preps, 2021:

EVERGREEN STATE RED CARD

Wildfires 2019:

RED BANK & SOUTH FIRE HELICOPTER OPS

Wildfires 2018: CALIFORNIA FIRES MAKE AT LEAST 1-MILLION TONS OF WASTE!

U.S.

U.S. Wildfire preps, 2021: Evergreen State Red Card

Video June 18, 2021 Hutchins AAron

“We have been actively responding for the past 15 months to the CoViD-19 pandemic. With vaccination rates improving and the state getting set to reopen in June, we are shifting our focus back to supporting our fight against summer fires.”-Major General Bret Daugherty, Washington National Guard

Washington National Guard photo by Peter Chang.

Now that (apparently) the pandemic-panic-attack is over (in the U.S.), more than 2-hundred Washington state militia personnel attended Red Card basic training towards the end of May, 2021.

Washington National Guard video report, by Peter Chang, Red Card training on Fort Lewis McChord:

Red Card is also known as Incident Qualification Card, it is a type of fire fighting training that is accepted by federal and various state agencies.

Washington National Guard photo by Joseph Siemandel.

More than 4-thousand-5-hundred Washington National Guard personnel have taken part in fire fighting since 2013. Fire fighting authorities knew going into 2021 that it was going to potentially be a catastrophic fire year, due to massive drought through out the western U.S.

MAFFS prep, Wildfires 2021: CALIFORNIA

U.S. Wildfires, 2021: INTANKO

U.S.

U.S. Wildfires, 2021: Intanko

Image June 18, 2021 Hutchins AAron

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Jason W. Cochran.

In California, on 08JUN2021, more than 3-hundred Beale Air Force Base (AFB) personnel and their families were ordered to evacuate, by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Yuba County Sheriff’s Department, due to a wildfire.

CalFire S-2T water bomber. USAF photo by Airman First Class Jason W. Cochran.

CalFire (Cal Fire, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection), Wheatland Fire Department, Linda Fire Department and other local agencies were already fighting the Intanko Fire, and now Beale AFB Fire Department and Civil Engineers joined in that fight.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Jason W. Cochran.

Corpat Incorporated Bell 212. USAF photo by Airman First Class Jason W. Cochran.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Jason W. Cochran.

Erickson Aero Tanker MD-87. USAF photo by Airman First Class Jason W. Cochran.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Jason W. Cochran.

When the Intanko Fire was finished about 939 acres (380 hectares) had burned, but luckily no buildings: “When everything settled down and the hectic phase of it had passed, I was just happy to see that all of the homes were not damaged and everyone was safe.”-Senior Airman John Nethercutt, 9th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter

USAF photo by Airman First Class Jason W. Cochran.

Idaho Wildfires, 2019:

MD-87 WATER BOMBER & NEW KING AIR FAC

Technology

California: MAFFS prep wildfire 2021

Video June 17, 2021 Hutchins AAron

California Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Michelle Ulber.

During the first week of May 2021, California and Nevada Air National Guard C-130H and C-130J crews took part in Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) training on San Bernardino Air Tanker Base, California.

California ANG photo by Senior Airman Michelle Ulber.

California Air National Guard video ‘explainer’ interview, by Technical Sergeant Nieko Carzis:

California ANG photo by Senior Airman Michelle Ulber.

California ANG ‘nat-sound’ video by Technical Sergeant Nieko Carzis:

California ANG photo by Senior Airman Michelle Ulber.

MAFFS prep, wildfire 2021:

COLORADO

2017: IDAHO CONDUCTS MASSIVE MAFFS TRAINING, IN PREPS FOR HOT WILDFIRE SEASON!

2016: Another C-130 converted to MAFFS, U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Defense expecting hotter fire seasons?

1977: My little brother, Ernie, enjoying his tour of a C-130 at Edwards AFB Open House.

45 YEARS OF C-130 MAFFS OPS. WHO WOULD’VE KNOWN WILDFIRES WOULD BECOME SUCH A PROBLEM?

Technology

MAFFS preps, Wildfire Season 2021: Colorado

Video June 15, 2021 Hutchins AAron

Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Jon Alderman.

U.S. Air Force Reserve and Wyoming Air National Guard C-130 crews took part in Modular Airborne Firefighting System (MAFFS) training during the week of 10 thru 15 May, 2021.