Video from the Norbeck prescribed fire

The Alpine Hotshots, a National Park Service hotshot crew from Colorado, is shown using drip torches to ignite vegetation on the Norbeck Section 2 prescribed fire. The project which began October 20, 2014 involves almost 2,000 acres in Custer State Park, Wind Cave National Park, Black Hills National Forest, and private land.

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

3 thoughts on “Video from the Norbeck prescribed fire”

  1. Great video to use in the wildland fire class that I teach as an elective for my middle school kids. We talk a little bit about prescribed burns, and definitely about ignition devices.

    The part with the “dragon” is cool. I’d seen the ping pong droppers being used from helicopters before, but this was a new one for me. Does it work the same way as the DAID (pong) systems, with a chemical being injected into it prior to launching?

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    1. Henry, the projectiles are similar to those used in the other Plastic Sphere Dispenser machines. Yes, a chemical is injected into the plastic sphere, which when combined with another chemical already in the sphere, ignites about 30 seconds later. This ground-based machine launches the spheres about 100 to 200 feet.

      This launcher as well as the machine in the helicopter both broke down at about the same time Monday afternoon, a couple of hours before ignition would have been complete for the day. They had to go to Plan B, and light off the rest by hand. By Tuesday a replacement machine had been installed (or the first one repaired) in the helicopter. I’m not sure if the ground based launcher was repaired. I didn’t see it Tuesday.

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      1. Thank you sir! Your site is great, as it keeps me up to date on the happenings in the fire community. Seems like quite a bit has changed in the 9 years since I last worked summers as an engine boss and squad boss for the USFS.

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