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.

Williams Creek Fire, Crew Photos

My helicopter crew with the Helibase Manager, Dale (Left) and the Keeper of the Box, Scott (Right)




Helibase Manager Dale with his wife and daughters with the Astar.

Williams Creek Fire, Glide Oregon

Rebeca doing an outstanding job as Dipsite Manager on the Williams Creek Fire, Glide Oregon. What is she looking at?


It's Columbia Helicopters Vertol, 4 Charlie Hotel


Columbia Helicopters Vertol dipping in dipsite Bob.

My New Helicopter Crew

The fire is slowly winding down, the boys from Wyoming have been released and I have a new helicopter crew.


Left to Right; Randy, Kevin (Helicopter Manager), Ellen and Rebecca. I worked with Ellen last year on the Iron 44 fire in Weaverville California.

The Wyoming Boys

My helicopter crew. The Wyoming boys, l -r, Karsten, Sage, Dennis, Mike and Myles.

Future Fire People and Pilots

We had a group of young kids come out and visit us on the Helibase today.

They all had lots of questions about wildland fire fighting and how the helicopter is used.



I think some of them enjoy just sitting in a helicopter as much as I do.

Williams Creek Morning Briefing

With the wildfires winding down many of the fire teams have left. As of today we're down to only two helicopter crews left.


Karsten and Dennis, two of my crew. Dennis is the Helicopter Manager.


The Williams Creek Fire Air Ops Map


The rest of my helicopter crew minus Sage. Myles, Mike and Carsten again.

Burn Baby Burn

Today we used the PSD (Plastic Sphere Dispenser) to start some fires. It worked so well I think I just flew myself out of a job. Looks like the fires about burned out and we'll probably be demobbing soon.


Dennis and Myles installing the hopper on the PSD.


With the PSD installed in the Astar helicopter, Mike, Myles and Dennis admire their handiwork.


The Astar, the helicopter crew and the PSD.


Heidi, the Mad Bomber checking her equipment out.


Heidi in the bomber seat, doing final checks.


Dave Lockwood, our bomb boss. He tells me where to fly the helicopter and Heidi where to drop.


Astar helicopter, 350SB configured with the PSD

Thank You All

Thank you for all the kind comments. It was my pleasure and just a small way of saying thank you to the crew on the line for doing such great and difficult work.

It's obvious how appreciated the fire crews are any time you go in to the small communities and the people are all so thankful that they are here and doing the job they do.

We are all proud of you for the job you do and I am happy to call each of you my friends.

PJ