CalFire Prepares calls more back up

Real World Aviation
#1

California is preparing for a very long night, Tanker 910, Tanker 911 and Tanker 914 have assembled at McCarren Fire base as Cali begins to burn. Tanker 944 is also back from South America on Call When Needed Call.

Along with 10 Tanker Air Carrier and The Global Supertanker Neptune has deployed five more of their Tanker 01, Tanker 02, Tanker 10, Tanker 12, Tanker 15 CalFire also has their own S2Ts on stand by. Coulson has Tanker 134, a C-130 and Tanker 137, a Boeing 737-300. Calfire helicopters also are on stand by to support fires. Right now Night Qualified aircrews are attacking as we speak.
I’ll update this threat through out the night

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Tanker 911 will be enroute after MX are cleared according to one of the Captains. This brings all four DC-10s into battle.

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#2

There is a topic to post FR24 findings!
Flightradar24 Findings

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#3

This isn’t about FR24 findings, this is an update on CalFire night operations that are currently taking place and a thread share information on machines that are deployed.

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#4

If it’s about the CalFires then it should be in general

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#5

Nope, CalFire Aviation is a real world organization which is why this is in Real World Aviation, along with all the other aircraft on USFS Call When Needed Contracts.

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#6

Best of luck to them. Really depends on the size of that fire. The fire must be massive to do night operations. 4 DC-10’s can do a great job fighting the fire. 👍

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#7

So far its grown to 1000 acres with 60 knot winds with in the last 20 - 30 minutes, SEATs are also enroute according to CalFire.

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#8

I only know the European car brand and that isn’t what you mean here, could you please explain what it is to the non-native speaker (me)? Thanks for the interesting thread!

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#9

Sure! SEATs are Single Engine Air Tankers. Typically Air Tractors! Colorado is one of the very first operations in the US to be qualified to fight fires with Night Vision Goggles

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#10

Thank you! That makes far more sense than the small lower- to medium class cars which I was thinking about.

That’s a great use of technology and very impressive as I would imagine the contrast between the bright fires and the dark surrounding could make actually seeing the surroundings very though.

Didn’t think about that before, but without such Googles you can’t fight fires at night via air, right?

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#11

I mean you could at least once now is it smart? I’d say no. We’ve seen NVG operations in Australia with Coulsons S61 and it’s been a huge help!

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#12

Thought so, thanks very much for all the in-depth replies!

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#13

Of course! I really enjoy the fire side of aviation and been dealing with it last two years and always enjoy it!

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#14

Very interesting post!

#15

As a former Wildland firefighter, I really don’t feel great about nigh ops with aviation. I don’t know if the risk is worth the rewards. When I took IC (Incident commander, lower level) classes I was taught to always consider the safety of the air resource before ordering.

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#16

Don’t know much about your trade but we sure appreciate you folks out here in AZ! Stay safe.

#17

Sadly I do not do it anymore, a nasty and nagging back injury forced me into an early retirement from that career field. But thank you anyways.

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#18

Also I’d you have any questions about the trade feel free to answer me and I’d be happy to answer them to the best of my ability!

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#19

Over the evening Coulson Aviation launched its Night time operations with S-61s

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#20

It’s one thing that fires are raging about 40 miles from me, and another that the risk that seemed to be out still made a huge fire. Well, that’s the Golden State.