Installing the Simplex Tank for the urban fire environment.

 

The tank all lined up and cleaned ready to be installed.

 

Attaching the tank to H-535.

 

Ryan and Errol making the final electrical connections.

Fire Season 2013, Keenwild Helibase, Idyllwild, Ca, Mt San Juacinto, San Bernadino Forest

 

Fire 535 Reporting for Service

 

The view from the helipad

 

View from the helipad looking towards Hemet

 

The view from my office

Fire Season in the Southwest

Picking up my new ride in Albuquerque.  This is almost as much fun as flying a computer simulator.

First stop, Reserve New Mexico.  This is the time that keeps us very busy and frequently out of contact with the rest of the world during our work day due to the remoteness of where we are. Fortunately we do get to come in to town to get a hotel in the evening. Recently we've been on the WS Fire just southwest of Reserve New Mexico. 

 

Sometimes if it's slow, we get to sneak off to Carmen's for lunch.

After the WS fire in Reserve, we were called down to the Horse Canyon fire about 30 miles West of Carlsbad New Mexico.   

 

This is the "White Sands Missle Range".  We got special permission to fly directly over it while en route to Carlsbad.

 

Cierra checks out the available space in Des's Huey (205A).  Looks like she's thinking, "No more Astar's for me". 

While on the Horse Canyon Fire, I was called to do some crew shuttles and long line work for the National Park Service on the Dog Fire.

I picked the Park Service crew up at Pine Springs Helipad in  Pine Springs Texas, just south of the New Mexico Border.

After the Horse Canyon Fire, it was off to Springerville AZ to help out the crew there with  IA. (Initial Attack).

Stopping at TRC (Truth or Consequences) New Mexico for Jet-A.

9AT parked for fuel at Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.

USFS Repeater work in Alaska