Tag Archives: tractor

Idaho, U.S.

U.S. Wildfire, 2022: Ross Fork Fire, Idaho

Video

At about 18:00, 09AUG2022, I noticed a lot of smoke northeast of where I live in Chubbuck, Idaho.

The fire grew as the sun went down.

It glowed through out the night.  The wind was blowing north, northeast.  During the night a strong windstorm blew in from the west (it was not forecasted).  The next day, local news media reported the fire was located on the east side of the Fort Hall Reservation, homes were evacuated, burning at least 2-thousand-5-hundred acers (more than 1000 hectares). By the afternoon there were conflicting reports about the fire; TV news said it was under control and evacuations canceled, while newspapers reported it had re-ignited, was spreading and forcing more evacuations.  I believe the newspapers because there was a sudden non-stop bucket brigade of water bomber flights from the Pocatello Airtanker Base.

Some video I made from my backyard, of Air Tractors and a MD87,  flying over Chubbuck, on their way to bomb the Ross Fork Fire:

It should be noted that the Pocatello Airtanker Base, on the Pocatello Regional Airport, was undergoing an expansion of its ‘pit’ operations for water bombers, and was not expected to be operational until July, or “until further notice”.  Obviously, the U.S. Forest Service airtanker operations are now up and running.  That is what you call ‘perfect timing’!     

Some video I made of an Air Tractor and RJ85 being put to bed after a busy day of water bombing (they can only water-bomb during daylight):

As of 23:30, 10AUG2022, the Ross Fork Fire is still burning.  The wind changed direction and kicked-up, this time we got teased with a little bit of rain. Thunderstorms are forecasted, but they’ve been bringing us more lightning than needed rain.  There was also a wildfire in Power County, west of here, but it is supposedly extinguished.

The same area has a history of catching fire, July 2013:

2 1/2 MILE FIRE, MORE IDAHO FIRES EXPECTED, WARNS OFFICIALS.

U.S. disasters 2022: WEST VIRGINIA MILITIA DEPLOYS TO KENTUCKY FLOODS!

U.S. Wildfire 2021: MILITIA & U.S. ARMY BATTLES LARGEST EVER FOR HAWAII!

Idaho Wildfires 2019:

Photo by AAron B. Hutchins.

MD-87 WATER BOMBER & NEW KING AIR FAC

Photo by AAron B. Hutchins.

DC-10, IDAHO’S 911

Idaho Wildfires 2012:

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.

Canadian BAe 146 (RJ85) join the fight on Pocatello Airtanker Base

Idaho, Technology, U.S.

Smoke ’em if you got ’em!: Pocatello Airport Fire Bombers are Back!

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06 AUG 2017 (03:39 UTC-07 Tango 06)  15 Mordad 1396/13 Dhu l-Qa’da 1438/15 Wu-Shen 4715

The sky around eastern Idaho is socked in with smoke as the 2017-18 wildfire season roars up (I don’t think I’ve ever seen it so smokey around here, and I’ve been here 20 years).  The water bombing aircraft based at Pocatello Airport were busy during daylight; non-stop landings, reloading, take-offs, for hours on-end until dark.

Photos by AAron B. Hutchins. Click pics to make bigger:

April 2017: MAFFS BOMBS IDAHO!

At the end of  2016 U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Defense warning: WILDFIRE SEASON 2018 GOING TO BE A HOT ONE!

BOISE FIRE UPDATE: CHUBBUCK ALLSTATE ALREADY HIT WITH FIRE CLAIMS!

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

2015: IDAHO WILDFIRES KILL WOMAN

IDAHO’S 13+ YEARS OF DROUGHT ADD UP TO BIG ASS WILDFIRE SEASON FOR 2014!  (didn’t happen)

2013: POCATELLO, IDAHO, CHARLOTTE FIRE 2?

POCATELLO AIRPORT, 2012 IDAHO WILDFIRES: CANADAIR CL 215

IDAHO WILDFIRE UPDATE, 20 SEPTEMBER 2012: ANOTHER SMOKEY DAY, STILL LEADING THE NATION WITH MOST FIRES

IDAHO WILDFIRES, POCATELLO TANKER BASE: 13 SEPTEMBER 2012, SIKORSKY & USMC IN TOWN

EAST IDAHO WILDFIRE 2012: BUSY 30 MINUTES AT POCATELLO AIRPORT, AS FIRE FIGHTING AIRCRAFT FLY INTO ACTION

POCATELLO CHARLOTTE FIRE UPDATE: 100% CONTAINED, FIREWORKS FOR 4TH OF JULY, SEED FOR REBUILDING COMMUNITY!

June 2012: POCATELLO BURNING! EVACUATIONS!

Idaho, Technology

Idaho Wildfires, Pocatello Tanker Base: 13 September 2012, Sikorsky & USMC in town

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Click pics (by AAron B. Hutchins) to make bigger:

IDAHO WILDFIRE UPDATE, 12 SEPTEMBER 2012: ANOTHER SMOKEY DAY, MORE AIR TANKERS ARRIVE AT POCATELLO TANKER BASE. EVACUATIONS IN EFFECT!

Idaho, Technology

Idaho Wildfire Update, 10 September 2012: Canada joins the fight at Pocatello Tanker Base!

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10 September 2012, the smoke just won’t go away, ’cause fires just keep poppin’ up!  So far, the year to date fire retardant used by fire fighting aircraft out of Pocatello airport (aka Pocatello Tanker Base) is 261,797 gallons (991,009.4 liters).

Little “seeders” 802 Air Tractors are the backbone of airborne firefighting operations out of Pocatello airport, but Neptunes, MAFFS C-130s and now Convair CV580 operated by CONAIR of Canada, are making appearances at the tanker base.

Click pics (by AAron B. Hutchins) to make bigger:

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, there are new fires in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Wyoming.  There are currently 34 large wildfires burning through the United States.

Idaho has seven large fires, with 640,881 acres (259,355.3 hectares) burned! California has nine fires, but with fewer burned acres, at 151,988 (61,507.36 hectares).

The most recent fires here in eastern Idaho were the Flint Canyon Fire south of American Falls, West Menan Fire and the Pickering Fire near Rexburg.

Regarding the now notorious Mustang Complex Fire, recently officials said the fire was so hard to get to that it would probably burn until the first heavy snowfall of winter!

The Mustang Complex Fire, burning along the Idaho/Montana border, increased by 20,000 acres (8,093.7 hectares) on 09 September 2012.  Mandatory evacuations were ordered.  The fire is now the single largest in the United States, at 281,000+ acres (113,716.6 hectares)!

EAST IDAHO WILDFIRE UPDATE, 29 AUGUST 2012: BURN AREAS BECOME DUST FARMS. 

Idaho, Technology

East Idaho Wildfire 2012: Busy 30 minutes at Pocatello Airport, as fire fighting aircraft fly into action

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The following pics (which you can make bigger by clicking on them) were taken by AAron B. Hutchins, within a thirty minutes period, at the Pocatello Regional Airport (USFS Air Tanker Base), on 12JUL2012, between 11:30 hours and 12:00 hours.

Remember, these pics were taken within a 30 minute period.

EAST IDAHO WILDFIRES 2012: MORE NEW FIRES ON 11 JULY, FIRE NEAR NUKE REACTOR, CRATERS OF THE MOON

Crews preping S-64 Skycrane to join in battle against Cox’s Well Fire. Photo by AAron B. Hutchins, 10JUL2012.

SIKORSKY SKYCRANE LEAVES POCATELLO AIRPORT FOR COX’S WELL FIRE

Idaho, U.S.

East Idaho Wildfires 2012: More new fires on 11 July, fire near nuke reactor, Craters of the Moon

11 July 2012, yesterday’s Cox’s Well Fire, near Springfield (east of Craters of the Moon National Monument), is supposedly 100% contained, although the EIIFC website is still showing 70% containment. Lightning is blamed.

But now several other fires have sprung up, because of lightning. Reports said there was a fire southwest of Atomic City, and a fire near the EBR-1 nuclear reactor.

EBR-1, ancient nuclear reactor in the middle of nowhere eastern Idaho. Near Midway Fire, which started on 10 July.

New fires reported on 11 July, by the Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire Center (EIIFC), are;

Old Grade Fire: Near Arco, they expect to have it controlled by 20:00 hours.

Butte City #2 Fire: 186 acres, no estimate on containment.

Cedar Butte WSA Fire: 1,200 acres, no estimate on containment.

Knox Canyon Fire: 600 acres, no further info.

Smoke from Knox Canyon Fire. Pic taken about 8 miles south of Arimo, on the north side of the Malad Pass, facing west.

Rooster Rock Fire: Southwest of Pocatello, 2,500 acres, extra fire fighting help has been called in.

Power County Assist #2 Fire: Power County Fire Department on scene.

Massacre Fire: Southwest of American Falls, 475 acres, 3 buildings destroyed, now contained.

Air Tractor fire fighter takes off from Pocatello Airport, as Skycrane undergoes maintenance after a busy day, 11 July 2012.

There are still fires burning from days ago;

Midway Fire: Southeast of Experimental Breeder Reactor-1 (EBR-1). 5,000 acres, no estimation on containment.  Began 10 July.

Box Canyon Fire: 380 acres, 50% containment, northwest of EBR-1. Started 09 July.

 

 

 

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Idaho farm tractors being stolen for scrap metal

“We’ve had a lot of scrap metal stolen. This is totally off the wall here.”– Jackie Morris, Power County Chief Deputy Sheriff

A farmer in American Falls, Idaho, had two old International tractors stolen right off his farm, in broad daylight.  Witnesses say they saw the tractors being hauled away on trailers pulled by pick up trucks.

The drivers of the pick ups were recognized as individuals who’re recently asking locals if they had any scrap metal they wanted to get rid of.

Farmers are being warned by law enforcement to inventory their farm equipment at least once per week.