Tag Archives: wildfire

Technology, U.S.

U.S. Disaster: Vid-Fest of M-A-F-F-S prepping for 2023 wildfire season!

Video

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:

U.S. Wildfire 2022: C-130 MAFFS DEPLOYED, IDAHO SUFFERS MOST FIRES/ACRES BURNED IN THE U.S.!

U.S. Wildfire 2021: WYOMING & COLORADO ACTIVATES MAFFS, NEVADA’S MAFF MISSION EXTENDED!

MASSIVE MAFFS PREP for WILDFIRE 2021

2020: MAFFS BIRD FLIES PANDEMIC VENTILATORS TO NEW YORK AND ALL POINTS EAST

Idaho Wildfires 2019: BRAND NEW KING AIR 250 F-A-C

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

FEMALE PILOT TELLS YOU WHY SHE FLIES MAFFS

2016: 45 YEARS OF C-130 MAFFS OPS. WHO WOULD’VE KNOWN WILDFIRES WOULD BECOME SUCH A PROBLEM?

Idaho Wildfires 2012: MAFFS C-130S RETURN TO POCATELLO AIRPORT, IDAHO NATIONAL GUARD JOINS BATTLE! IDAHO & CALIFORNIA HAVE THE MOST FIRES!

Technology

Vehicle I-D: No more anti-drug, fire fighting RC-26 Condors!

Video

The last RC-26B made its final flight on 16FEB2023.  For more than 30 years, beginning in 1991 (tail end of the Cold War), the RC-26B Condor not only worked anti-drug missions, but international warzone counter-insurgency flights, domestic homeland security missions, wild-fire fighting and disaster relief efforts: “This aircraft is kind of like a chameleon. It could morph in to just about anything you could imagine, as far as hurricane support, counter-drug, the border or wildfire support. It was like a Swiss Air National Guard Knife.”-Major Luis Flores, RC-26 pilot, Texas Air National Guard

The RC-26B is a modified C-26B, which began service in the last decade of the non-declared Cold War as the C-26A. At one point it was known as the ISR (Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance).

National Guard report about combat use of RC-26B, somewhere in South West Asia (Middle East), 18JUL2013:

During those 30 plus years the Condor (modified Fairchild Metro 23) was flown by units in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Mississippi, New Mexico, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington.

CALIFORNIA:

California Air National Guard photo, 30JUL2014.

FLORIDA:

Florida Air National Guard photo by Sergeant Lalita Laksbergs, 22FEB2011.

Florida Air National Guard photo by Sergeant Lalita Laksbergs, 22FEB2011.

Florida Air National Guard photo by Sergeant Lalita Laksbergs, 22FEB2011.

Video by Master Sergeant Megan Hunter, 22FEB2011:

IOWA:

Iowa Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Robert Shepherd, 27JAN2023.

On 27JAN2023, the Iowa Air National Guard conducted its final flight of the RC-26B.  The Condor began operations at the Des Moines Airbase only recently, in 2015, providing counter-narcotics, and domestic natural disaster support, for law enforcement and emergency management.

Iowa Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Robert Shepherd, 27JAN2023.

MISSISSIPPI: USAF video (by Staff Sergeant Aaron Richardson) RC-26B during exercise Southern Strike, October 2015:

TEXAS: 

RC-26 cockpit view of New York City, on its way to its final resting place in Maryland. Texas Air National Guard photo by Sean Cowher, 16FEB2023.

Delivering the 147th Attack Wing’s RC-26 to Hagerstown Aviation Museum, Maryland. Texas Air National Guard photo by Sean Cowher, 16FEB2023.

On 15FEB2023, the 147th Attack Wing of the Texas Air National Guard retired its RC-26 Condor, but the final flight was when the aircraft was put out to pasture at the Hagerstown Aviation Museum, in Maryland, on 16FEB2023.

An early Condor of the Texas Air National Guard, with a surveillance pod, 13SEP2005. Photo by Staff Sergeant Cheryl Hackley.

The first Texas Air National Guard RC-26 crew, in 1991!

WEST VIRGINIA:

West Virginia National Guard photo by Edwin L. Wriston, 06JAN2023.

On 06JAN2023, the West Virginia National Guard retired their RC-26 Condor (#  94-0260).  RC-26 #94-0260 was one of the last of 11 such aircraft operated by the U.S. Air Force and National Guard.

Final crew for the Final Flight. West Virginia National Guard photo by Edwin L. Wriston, 06JAN2023.

WASHINGTON:

Final start-up of an RC-26, for its final flight from Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, 06JAN2023. Washington Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Kayleigh Phillips.

On 06JAN2023, Washington joined West Virginia in retiring its Condor.  Evergreen State C-26B operations began from Fairchild Air Force Base in 1991, then in 1995 the Condor was reconfigured as an RC-26B.

Washington Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Kayleigh Phillips, 06JAN2023.

“We provide the necessary information to the USDA FS and NWICC, such as, where is the fire? In one instance with the Crescent Mountain fire, the fire behavior and visibility had been erratic. We showed up at 0700, had the RC-26 overhead at 0800, and by 0930 evacuation orders were sent out based on the video feed provided to the incident commander.”-Lieutenant Colonel Rich Cullen, October 2018

Washington National Guard video, RC-26B surveillance of wildfire in Oregon, August 2018:

Inside an RC-26 assigned to the141st Operations Group, Washington Air National Guard, mapping the Chetco Bar fire in southern Oregon 02SEP2017. USAF photo by Senior Airman Sean Campbell.

WISCONSIN: The RC-26B began service with the Air National Guard in January 1992, assigned anti-drugs duty in 1996, final flight 28DEC2022.

Wisconsin Air National Guard’s RC-26B reconnaissance aircraft after its final flight 28DEC2022. Wisconsin Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Paul Gorman.

Wisconsin Air National Guard’s RC-26B reconnaissance aircraft after its final flight 28DEC2022. Wisconsin Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Paul Gorman.

Vehicle I-D: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SUPER IMPRESSIVE E-F-V?

Cold War Vehicle I-D: VULCAN, 70 YEARS LATER!

Idaho, U.S.

U.S. Wildfire 2022: C-130 MAFFS deployed, Idaho suffers most fires/acres burned in the U.S.!

Video

From the week ending 10SEP2022:

According to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), based in Boise, Idaho leads the nation with 34 reported wildfires, as well as the most acreage burned.

10SEP2022, family moving onto their new property in Northern Idaho discover they are surrounded by wildfires:

09SEP2022, two suspected arsonists arrested:

09SEP2022, Bannock County 2 & 1/2 MILE FIRE, HISTORY REPEATS?

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.

09SEP2022, Four Corners Fire update:

09SEP2022, Blaine County’s Ross Fork Fire (not to be confused with last month’s Ross Fork Fire in Bannock County) still only 2% contained:

09SEP2022, Jerome County declares state of emergency as a result of a new fire:

08SEP2022, Rainbow Fire:

08SEP2022, air quality warnings issued:

08SEP2022, electrical power cut as mine operations are evacuated:

07SEP2022, Idaho Power (a for-profit utility company) now blames wildfires for causing power shortages in Idaho:

06SEP2022, Sagehen Fire borders Bingham and Caribou Counties:

04SEP2022, Limelight Fire destroys 26 low income homes:

Idaho, August 2022: What timing as Pocatello Airport’s U.S. Forest Service Air Tanker base is back online after extensive upgrades!

U.S. Wildfire 2021: IDAHO UPDATE, 15 AUGUST

FOR FIRST TIME, IDAHO MOBILIZES MILITIA (National Guard) FOR FIRE DUTY!

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

U.S. Wildfire 2017:

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.

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

Southeast Idaho Wildfire 2012:

A couple of Neptunes awaiting orders, on the tarmac at Pocatello Airport. Photo by AAron B. Hutchins, July 2012.

BUSY 30 MINUTES AT POCATELLO AIR TANKER BASE, AS FIRE FIGHTING AIRCRAFT FLY INTO ACTION

Idaho, U.S.

U.S. Wildfire 2022: 2 & 1/2 Mile Fire, history repeats?

09 September 2022  (11:44-UTC-07 Tango 06) 18 Shahrivar 1401/12 Safar1444/14 Ji-You 4720

2 & 1/2 Mile Fire, as seen from my backyard in Chubbuck, Idaho.

The wildfire currently called Two and a Half Mile Fire is in an area of Bannock County, Idaho, that has a history of going up in smoke.  Just last month, in the same area, north of Pocatello, on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Fort Hall Reservation land, was the Ross Fork Fire (not to be confused with a current wildfire of the same name in Blaine County).

Photo via BLM.

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:

Photo by AAron B. Hutchins, 01July 2013.

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

June 2012:

Smoke seen from downtown Old Town Pocatello. Photo by AAron B. Hutchins, 28JUN2012.

POCATELLO CHARLOTTE FIRE STILL BURNING! 66 HOMES NOW DESTROYED!

U.S.

U.S. Disaster/Food Crisis 2022: Oklahoma Militia fights 702-Fire, no more Beef Cattle?

Image

“It’s burning up in these canyons deep, burning out over the bowls and spreading out…. …. We’re unable to get our trucks and units down into the fire so. Basically, the only way is only with dozers and air support is the only way we’ll be able to get this knocked down.”-Jim Shelton, Blaine County Emergency Management 

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:

U.S. Disaster 2022: MORE FIRES, MORE MILITARY DEPLOYMENTS, BLAME HOUSING DEVELOPMENT SPECULATION GAME!

U.S. Food Crisis 2022: KENTUCKY MILITIA DEPLOYED FOR WATER SHORTAGE, “BAD WENT TO WORSE!”

Technology

Robot Wars, 2025: That’s no FLIR pod, that’s a robot flying that helicopter! Or, whatever happened to AACUS?

Video

U.S. Navy photo by John F. Williams, 11DEC2015.

AACUS (pronounced Ay-Kus, and not to be confused with the new British empire/Biden alliance known as AUKUS) = Autonomous Aerial Cargo Utility System

Boeing AH/MH-6 (MD 500) supposedly operated by a robot. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Corporal Samuel Ellis, 27FEB2014.

On 27FEB2014, a public demonstration was made of a new technology that supposedly would make human pilots for helicopters a thing of the past.  Over U.S. Marine Corps Base Quantico, in Virginia, a Boeing AH/MH-6 (aka MD 500) combat (yes, the MD500 is mainly a combat ‘copter, not cargo) rotary wing was supposedly flown by AACUS, a system of software and sensors, which purportedly could be applied to any existing helicopter.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Corporal Samuel Ellis, 27FEB2014.

“This is a Navy-Marine Corps team project. We’ve taken a landing system that can autonomously land an unmanned helicopter or aircraft into a very dangerous landing zone, potentially with the touch of a tablet. This is an expeditionary type of capability and there was no better place to test it than Quantico.”-Rear Admiral Matt Klunder

Supposedly this Kaman K-Max is being flown by a robot. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Corporal Samuel Ellis, 20MAR2014.

Then on 20MAR2014, over Marine Corps Base Quantico, a Kaman K-Max cargo helicopter was also flown by AACUS, mounted on the belly between the main landing gear.

According to the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps (USN/USMC), as of April 2014, AACUS had  cost taxpayers $98-million, since the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Innovative Naval Prototype program was started in 2012.

Notice the human pilot does not have his hands on the the control stick. U.S. Navy photo by John F. Williams, 11DEC2015.

In December 2015, another AACUS demonstration was held using a Bell 206L (aka Kiowa), this time at the Flying Circus Aerodrome located in Bealeton, Virginia.

USN photo by John F. Williams, 11DEC2015.

USN photo by John F. Williams, 25MAY20216.

In May 2016, a different Bell 206 was tested with AACUS.

USMC video report by Corporal Thor Larson, 25MAY2016:

USN photo by John F. Williams, 30NOV2017.

Between February 2017 and November 2017, more public demonstrations, this time with a Viet Nam era Bell UH-1H ‘Huey’, and this time they were really talking-up AACUS: “This is more than just an unmanned helicopter. AACUS is an autonomy kit that can be placed on any rotary-wing platform and provide it with an autonomous capability. Imagine a Marine Corps unit deployed in a remote location, in rough terrain, needing ammunition, water, batteries or even blood. With AACUS, an unmanned helicopter takes the supplies from the base, picks out the optimal route and best landing site closest to the warfighters, lands, and returns to base once the resupply is complete, all with the single touch of a handheld tablet.”-Walter Jones, Executive Director of ONR

USMC natural sound video, by John F. Williams, of final testing of AACUS over Marine Corps Base Quantico, 12DEC2017:

USN photo by John F. Williams, 30NOV2017.

However, Lieutenant General Robert Walsh, of Marine Corps Combat Development Command, admitted they still didn’t know what to do with this latest & greatest technology, saying “…it’s up to us to determine how to use it…”

USN photo by John F. Williams, 15FEB2017.

Officials with the AACUS program also pointed out that the system can also be used to help human pilots in inclement weather: “It can be used as a pilot aid in degraded visual environments…”-Dennis Baker, AACUS program officer

USN photo by John F. Williams, 15FEB2017.

USMC dramatic music video explainer,  by Sergeant Laiqa Hitt, 13DEC20217:

It was also revealed that AACUS is a technology that is part of the Department of Defense’s Force 2025, a modernization program started in 1995 and based on hypotheticals of what future warfare my require.  Each branch of the DoD has their own term for it, the USMC calls theirs Marine Corps Force 2025, and for fiscal year 2017 they claimed that Phase II of Force 2025 was “way ahead”.

Dramatic video report, 13DEC2017, by John F. Williams (for some reason the audio for the last half of the report is silent):

USMC natural sound video, by John F. Williams, of presentation of AACUS to news media on Marine Corps Base Quantico, 15DEC2017:

USMC photo by Matt Lyman, 14MAY2018.

In 2018, AACUS testing was moved to Twenty Nine Palms, California.

Robot Huey refueling at a Forward Area Refueling Point. USMC photo by Matt Lyman, 14MAY2018.

Integrated Training Exercise 3-18 (in May 2018) is considered the first time an AACUS flown rotary wing aircraft flew, and delivered cargo, during a wargame.

Not much has been reported about AACUS since 2018, but in 2021, Vertical Magazine revealed that wildfire fighting contractor Columbia Helicopters was working with Aurora Flight Systems to apply AACUS to be able to conduct aerial fire fighting at night.

ASPNT Huey, photo via Aurora Flight Sciences.

On 10JAN2022, Aurora Flight Sciences revealed they were working on an upgraded AACUS which will use ‘detect & avoid’ systems to prevent midair collisions, and a ‘GPS-Denied’ system (All Source Position, Navigation, and Timing, aka ASPNT) to allow robot aircraft to fly where GPS is not available.

Aurora Flight Sciences is a subsidiary of Boeing, they are also involved with programs to integrate humans and robots, and developing anti-drone systems.

In June 2022, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (aka CAL FIRE) made the first, ever in the U.S., series of night time water bombings on a wildfire called the Electra Fire. The Sikorsky S70i Fire Hawk was modified by United Rotorcraft, there was no indication what type of night flying system was being used.

U.S. Army photo, September 2017.

In September 2017, the U.S. Army conducted a robot helicopter operation using two Bell 206s (officially called RMAX UAS) to lift a 20 pound object and then fly it through an aerial obstacle course over Moffett Federal Airfield, California.  It is part of the Army’s AMRDEC Aviation Development Directorate autonomous program, ongoing since 2002.

U.S. Air Force, 1996: An Operational Analysis for Air Force 2025

U.S. Army, 2015: Force 2025 and Beyond

Royal Canadian Army, 2022: Due to lack of labor (being short 8-thousand personnel), the Force 2025 structure was adopted and is now being implemented.

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), 2022: Battle Force 2025, the U.S. plan to defend Taiwan 

Operation Jupiter: COMBONET A-I ROBOT SAYS REMDESIVIR IS THE NEW WONDER DRUG!

Zombie Tank: CHINA’S TYPE 59D TO LIVE-ON AS A ROBOT TANK?

Terminator: U.S. ARMY TRIPLES INVENTORY OF COMBAT ROBOT TANKS!

Robot Wars: BEWARE THE ZOMBIE KIOWA!

Texas Air National Guard hires robots to wash their F-16s!

Idaho, U.S.

U.S. Disaster 2022: More fires, more military deployments, blame housing development speculation game!

Video

An incomplete list of fire reports from across the United States, as of 19 May 2022:

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Wildfire smoke and Pandemic working together to damage your lungs!

Wildfire Today: Wildfire risk rating now available for 145 million properties in the United States.
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CALIFORNIA: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) refuses to help individual survivors of last year’s fire in El Dorado County!

Marin County water sources under extreme stress: “We are in a significant chronic drought. Our heavier fuels are feeling that stress. We’ve seen redwood trees dying that historically have done okay here. Pines and firs are nearing the end of their life.”-Chief Jason Weber, Marin County Fire Department

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.

Sheriff warns that newer home developments have been built with few escape routes!

Home construction/new housing developments blamed for new fires, like those million dollar homes that recently burned:

Prepare for more wildfires, yet survivors of recent fires say you can’t prepare for what burned them:

Wildfire burn areas prove to be a boon for mushroom hunters.

COLORADO: Fire risk higher than any other state!

Plumtaw Fire:

Wildfire burns at Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Residents living in a county with no active fires were notified on their phones to evacuate, even though the nearest fire was 40 miles away!

High Park Fire:

MICHAGAN: More than 2-thousand-7-hundred acres burning!

MONTANA: Blackfeet Reservation prepping for wildfire!

NEBRASKA: 201 Fire burns 1-thousand-5-hundred trees!

NEVADA: Federal and state taxpayers spending $24-million to study wildfires in Nevada!

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:

Largest wildfire still burning:

OREGON: Idaho Power claims its proposed electricity transmission lines, through Oregon, do not pose a wildfire risk!

Taxpayers to fund $4.7-million worth of ‘free’ air cleaners to help residents breath better in the now yearly Summer of Smoke!

The Governor claims there is a shortage of firefighters!

TEXAS: Evacuations underway!

Texas A&M Forest Service firefighters have already been fighting fires in their area, but they are saying the worst is still to come!

UTAH: Ongoing home developments raise fire risk!

WASHINGTON: Spring rains not enough to prevent Spring fires!

U.S. Disaster 2022: UTAH’S NEW FEMA REGION 8 URBAN DISASTER TRAINING SITE

Idaho, Technology, U.S.

U.S. Disaster 2022: U.S. military vehicles under fire! Grateful child thanks National Guard as fire approaches homes!

Video

An incomplete list of fire reports from across the United States, as of 27 April 2022:

Wildfire smoke accelerates glacier melt, affects mountain runoff.
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National Weather Service (NWS) predicts drier than expected year: “I’ve been with the National Weather Service for over 20 years, and I’ve never seen the winter storm door just slam shut like that. It’s very unsettling.”-Chris Smallcomb, NWS Reno

ALASKA: More than 10-thousand acres burned!

ARIZONA: New Wildfire in Arizona Adds to Several Burning in Dry Southwest

People being arrested for trying to go back to their homes:

Evacuation orders ended

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: Pueblo West Fire Department prepping homeowners on how to save their homes!

Boulder City Council considers ways to prep for massive fire season!

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:

FLORIDA: Port Charlotte Fire aftermath

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Anabel Del Valle, 11APR2022.

Tyndall Air Force Base began using a new modular fire station, 11APR2022.

IDAHO: Bannock County one of several already under USDA Drought Disaster declaration!

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.

NEBRASKA: Drought will intensify fire season

Road 702 fire 74% contained

Retired fire chief killed by wildfire!

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:

NEW MEXICO: Cleaning up after several wildfires

New fires, evacuation orders:

TENNESSEE: Video (bad audio) of Tennessee Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk responding to wildfires, 01APR2022:

TEXAS: 

JBSA-Camp Bullis fire, USAF photo by Brian Boisvert, 09APR2022.

By 10APR2022, the Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis fire was considered 50% contained.

WASHINGTON: Spokane Valley Fire Department begging homeowners to fire proof their properties:

U.S. Disaster, March 2022: LABOR SHORTAGE RESULTS IN MERGING OF MILITARY/CIVILIAN FIRE DEPARTMENTS!

Technology

Vehicle I-D: Cal-Fire Bronco

Video

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.

2019 Cal-Fire video report, upgraded OV-10:

https://www.facebook.com/CALFIRE/videos/493842311191325/

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:

In 2015, a prop failure on an Cal-Fire OV-10A grounded the OV-10 fleet.

Children get to check out an upgraded OV-10, during the Grass Valley Air Attack Base open house, 20JUL2019. Cal-Fire photo.

Amentum upgraded OV-10, photo via Amentum/Mike McKeig.

By March 2021, Cal-Fire’s upgraded OV-10 fleet had reached 16 aircraft; 15 former OV-10As and one former OV-10D.  The upgrade project is handled by Amentum-DynCorp International.

May 2021, San Bernardino International Airport video of upgraded OV-10:

The old O-2, photo via California Fire Pilots Association (CFPA).

CDF OV-10A, photo via CFPA.

CDF OV-10A, photo via CFPA/K. E. Pack.

California Fire Pilots Association

OV-10A front seat, photo via CFPA/K. E. Pack.

Click here for official Cal-Fire Aircraft Recognition Guide for 2019.

U.S. Wildfire 2021: WASHINGTON MILITIA DEPLOYS!

Disaster 2021: VERMONT & CONNECTICUT VALKYRIE FIGHT FIRES IN KOSOVO!

Idaho Wildfires 2019: MD-87 WATER BOMBER & NEW KING AIR F-A-C

International

Disaster 2021: Vermont & Connecticut Valkyrie fight fires in Kosovo!

Video

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:

Many of the fires across the Balkans are suspected to be intentionally started, 20 people arrested just in Kosovo: “Kosovo Police identified 109 cases of arson.”

Disaster 2021:  U.S. ARMY FIGHTS FIRE IN TURKEY! RUSSIAN WATER BOMBER CRASHES!