Firefighting From The Air
Kurt Kamm
June 26, 2008
The air war against fires is carried out by both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. At a major wildland fire, all available firefighting aircraft may be used, drawn from state and county resources, the military, and outside contractors.
Helitak crews are lifted in helicopters to wildland fires in remote areas to begin cutting firelines. They are tough men who may be jumping off the helicopter, holding their fire packs and tools, while it hovers on one skid on a mountain top.
While fixed wing aircraft are used to drop retardant or water, the helicopter is the workhorse, which performs several functions. Because it is highly maneuverable, the helicopter works in close support of fire crews on the ground, dropping water to protect men or structures or to slow an advancing wall of flames. The first helicopters carried a "Bambi Bucket," usually a 300 gallon container (originally made of leather) which hung from a rope or cable. It was filled with water and then dumped over a target. As helicopters became more powerful, they were equipped with water tanks. The Bell 412, commonly used in firefighting, carries 300 gallons in tanks mounted under the fuselage.
The most powerful and effective weapon is the Firehawk, which is a military Blackhawk attack helicopter modified for fire use. The Firehawk can carry a crew of six men and equipment to a fire, and has the capability of dropping 1,100 gallons of water from its tanks. The water capacity of the Firehawk is close to the equivalent of the fixed wing aircraft now being used. The Firehawk has a retractable snorkel, which allows it to fill its tanks from open water spots as well as from above-ground tanks (called Pumpkins). The flexibility of the helicopter and the fact that it does not have to land to take on more water, makes it a powerful firefighting tool.
The Firehawk is powered by two 1,560 horsepower turbines. Fire pilots say that it is a pleasure to fly because they don´t have to continually "push the envelope" and fly the aircraft at full power. The normal flight crew for the Firehawk is a pilot and two crew members, who are also paramedics. The helicopter is also used for Medivac and rescue purposes. The L.A. County Fire Department flies three Firehawks, each of which cost approximately $8 million. One of the hawks was originally destined for the Sultan of Brunei, for his personal use. When he canceled the order, the craft was reconfigured for fire use and delivered to L.A. County.
During fire weather in Los Angeles, a Firehawk is positioned in each of the north, west, and eastern parts of L.A. County for quick fire response. Firefighting from the air at night is becoming more common. L.A. County pilots can and will fly after dark, using night vision goggles, when the circumstances permit.
Delicate coordination is required between Incident Command, which develops and supervises overall firefighting strategy, the men on the ground who are implementing the fight and calling for airdrops, and the pilots themselves. Often there is a helicopter in the air with a Fire Control Officer who coordinates orders and communications between the aircraft and the men on the ground.
Often a water or retardant drop requires flying through thick, sometimes blinding smoke. The fixed wing aircraft are guided in by a small spotter aircraft, usually a one-man Cessna Skymaster.
Much of the fixed wing aircraft used for firefighting is old, and concerns are growing about airworthiness. Recently there have been incidents where aircraft have disintegrated in the air due to the catastrophic metal fatigue from the stress applied to the aging airframes.
Old patrol bombers, twin engine Neptunes (used by the Navy 1947-1978), and the four engine Orion (used after 1980), are still in use. The military may supply old C-130 Hercules aircraft fitted with internal water tanks. At the state level, for example, CalFire operates 23 Grumman air tankers from 13 bases around California.
In Los Angeles County, two twin-engine, high wing Super Scoopers are leased from Quebec Province during the Santa Ana months (October – March). Living in the hills of Malibu, overlooking the ocean, I have seen these yellow aircraft, called Quebec One and Two in radio communications, scooping water out of the ocean. My house is often directly in their flight path and I have watched them laboring to make the steep climb back over the hills, flying so low over my house that I can see the pilots.
The various aircraft mentioned can drop between 1,200 and 1,400 gallons of water or retardant
Recently, a converted DC-10, with 12,000-gallon water tanks mounted under its fuselage, has seen limited use in California. It was first used in 2006 in California. In 2007, its wings clipped trees while pulling out of a low water drop. There has been controversy over whether the 30 year-old DC-10 is airworthy, but in 2007, the State of California leased the aircraft for 3 years, at a cost of $15 million, for use in firefighting.
Since many fires are fought in mountains and canyons where small aircraft are required, the DC-10 is only useful in areas where tight maneuvers are not required. A converted 747, capable of carrying 24,000 gallons, has not yet received air certification.
The skies above a major wildfire can be filled with several fixed wing aircraft and a dozen or more water dropping helicopters. To give a sense of the logistics of just a medium sized wildland fire, here is an excerpt from a local paper describing the 2006 Sawtooth Fire, which burned 62,000 acres in San Bernardino County, CA:
"In addition to the DC-10, there are 85 fire crews; 206 engines; 8 airtankers; 15 helicopters and 35 bulldozers battling the blaze, with 60 percent containment, all being managed by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Incident Command Team 8 in conjunction with CDF, San Bernardino County Fire, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's office, U.S. Forest Service, CHP, LA County Fire, CA Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Red Cross, and the Governor´s Office of Emergency Services…"
Copyright 2008 – Kurt Kamm
Kurt Kamm writes novels about fires and firefighters. A resident of Malibu, he has lived through several wildland fires. He is a regular visitor at the fire camps, stations and training academies of L.A. County Fire Department and CalFire. To learn more about his novels, One Foot in the Black, and Red Flag Warning, visit http://www.kurtkamm.com.
Helitak crews are lifted in helicopters to wildland fires in remote areas to begin cutting firelines. They are tough men who may be jumping off the helicopter, holding their fire packs and tools, while it hovers on one skid on a mountain top.
While fixed wing aircraft are used to drop retardant or water, the helicopter is the workhorse, which performs several functions. Because it is highly maneuverable, the helicopter works in close support of fire crews on the ground, dropping water to protect men or structures or to slow an advancing wall of flames. The first helicopters carried a "Bambi Bucket," usually a 300 gallon container (originally made of leather) which hung from a rope or cable. It was filled with water and then dumped over a target. As helicopters became more powerful, they were equipped with water tanks. The Bell 412, commonly used in firefighting, carries 300 gallons in tanks mounted under the fuselage.
The most powerful and effective weapon is the Firehawk, which is a military Blackhawk attack helicopter modified for fire use. The Firehawk can carry a crew of six men and equipment to a fire, and has the capability of dropping 1,100 gallons of water from its tanks. The water capacity of the Firehawk is close to the equivalent of the fixed wing aircraft now being used. The Firehawk has a retractable snorkel, which allows it to fill its tanks from open water spots as well as from above-ground tanks (called Pumpkins). The flexibility of the helicopter and the fact that it does not have to land to take on more water, makes it a powerful firefighting tool.
The Firehawk is powered by two 1,560 horsepower turbines. Fire pilots say that it is a pleasure to fly because they don´t have to continually "push the envelope" and fly the aircraft at full power. The normal flight crew for the Firehawk is a pilot and two crew members, who are also paramedics. The helicopter is also used for Medivac and rescue purposes. The L.A. County Fire Department flies three Firehawks, each of which cost approximately $8 million. One of the hawks was originally destined for the Sultan of Brunei, for his personal use. When he canceled the order, the craft was reconfigured for fire use and delivered to L.A. County.
During fire weather in Los Angeles, a Firehawk is positioned in each of the north, west, and eastern parts of L.A. County for quick fire response. Firefighting from the air at night is becoming more common. L.A. County pilots can and will fly after dark, using night vision goggles, when the circumstances permit.
Delicate coordination is required between Incident Command, which develops and supervises overall firefighting strategy, the men on the ground who are implementing the fight and calling for airdrops, and the pilots themselves. Often there is a helicopter in the air with a Fire Control Officer who coordinates orders and communications between the aircraft and the men on the ground.
Often a water or retardant drop requires flying through thick, sometimes blinding smoke. The fixed wing aircraft are guided in by a small spotter aircraft, usually a one-man Cessna Skymaster.
Much of the fixed wing aircraft used for firefighting is old, and concerns are growing about airworthiness. Recently there have been incidents where aircraft have disintegrated in the air due to the catastrophic metal fatigue from the stress applied to the aging airframes.
Old patrol bombers, twin engine Neptunes (used by the Navy 1947-1978), and the four engine Orion (used after 1980), are still in use. The military may supply old C-130 Hercules aircraft fitted with internal water tanks. At the state level, for example, CalFire operates 23 Grumman air tankers from 13 bases around California.
In Los Angeles County, two twin-engine, high wing Super Scoopers are leased from Quebec Province during the Santa Ana months (October – March). Living in the hills of Malibu, overlooking the ocean, I have seen these yellow aircraft, called Quebec One and Two in radio communications, scooping water out of the ocean. My house is often directly in their flight path and I have watched them laboring to make the steep climb back over the hills, flying so low over my house that I can see the pilots.
The various aircraft mentioned can drop between 1,200 and 1,400 gallons of water or retardant
Recently, a converted DC-10, with 12,000-gallon water tanks mounted under its fuselage, has seen limited use in California. It was first used in 2006 in California. In 2007, its wings clipped trees while pulling out of a low water drop. There has been controversy over whether the 30 year-old DC-10 is airworthy, but in 2007, the State of California leased the aircraft for 3 years, at a cost of $15 million, for use in firefighting.
Since many fires are fought in mountains and canyons where small aircraft are required, the DC-10 is only useful in areas where tight maneuvers are not required. A converted 747, capable of carrying 24,000 gallons, has not yet received air certification.
The skies above a major wildfire can be filled with several fixed wing aircraft and a dozen or more water dropping helicopters. To give a sense of the logistics of just a medium sized wildland fire, here is an excerpt from a local paper describing the 2006 Sawtooth Fire, which burned 62,000 acres in San Bernardino County, CA:
"In addition to the DC-10, there are 85 fire crews; 206 engines; 8 airtankers; 15 helicopters and 35 bulldozers battling the blaze, with 60 percent containment, all being managed by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Incident Command Team 8 in conjunction with CDF, San Bernardino County Fire, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's office, U.S. Forest Service, CHP, LA County Fire, CA Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Red Cross, and the Governor´s Office of Emergency Services…"
Copyright 2008 – Kurt Kamm
Kurt Kamm writes novels about fires and firefighters. A resident of Malibu, he has lived through several wildland fires. He is a regular visitor at the fire camps, stations and training academies of L.A. County Fire Department and CalFire. To learn more about his novels, One Foot in the Black, and Red Flag Warning, visit http://www.kurtkamm.com.
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