The U.S. Forest Service (FS) is expecting to contract for 48 Type 1 helicopters for the 2021 wildfire season. These helicopters are the largest that are used for fighting wildfires and can carry between 700 and 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant.
In 2016 the FS hired 34 Type 1 helicopters but starting in 2017 reduced the number to 28. The fleet remained at that level until the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 when they added an additional 22 ships for a total of 50. The agency felt the “surge” helicopters were necessary to mitigate a possible decrease in the effectiveness or numbers of their ground forces — engine and hand crews. In addition, the federal land management agencies said last year they were going to limit the number of less-than-full-suppression fires and attack new ignitions aggressively.
The administrative bases of the helicopters will be at 48 locations. The FS will still have the 28 exclusive use Type 1 ships; the additional 20 will serve a mandatory availability period of 120 days, with a possible option for another 30 if the FS determines a need.
Like in 2020, this solicitation has the unusual provision of limiting the 20 surge contracts to the participants of the existing Forest Service Type 1 Basic Ordering Agreement.
Interested vendors must get their offers to the FS by March 3, 2021.
More information about the solicitation.
Skycrane “Isabelle” N178AC, a Sikorsky S-64F from Erickson Incorporated fills her 2,500 gallon tank at the Rancho Manana Golf Club while fighting the nearby Central Fire burning in the Tonto National Forest near New River, Arizona, June 21, 2020. Photo by John Hall.Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Brian.
8 Comments
One big caveat to last year is that there will be ZERO dedicated HLCO platforms available as there were last year. I believe the FS had about 6-9 nationally funded HLCO platforms in order to provide aerial supervision to these surge aircraft but this year? Nada!
Putting more aircraft (fixed and rotor) in the air and cutting corners on Aerial Supervision is a bad, bad recipe.
Hmmm…’They say it’s for “aggressive initial attack” but we know that has not been working out, (e.g. Woodbury, Bush, and other fires).’
As shared…’The Tonto NF blatantly cancelled requests for “aggressive initial attack” on the Woodbury Fire.’
I think the Forest Service has zero comprehension of the new breed of forensic fire weather folks quietly documenting all these actions…I hope they understand many savvy folks are watching in prior years and they will continue to do so…
Me. Time to take care of my health more…have my brain ss procedure soon…
Stay safe this Fire Season…
I agree, to me “aggressive initial attack” means sending aircraft during initial response, but that’s not happening anywhere except CA, that I know of. In my experience last year, the surge helicopters ended up on large fires, because there were so many and the need was there. When are Fire Managers going to learn that it saves many thousands of dollars to start aircraft sooner than later, especially helicopters, knowing that you will spend a little if you turn them around when not needed. I can see being a little conservative with air tankers because most have to jettison their load if not used. Helicopters cost pennies in comparison if you need to cancel them (or nothing if they don’t even get off the ground!).
Woodbury was in 2019. Sawtooth burned in parts of the fire scar. The Bush fire WAS aggressively IA’d, however given the fuel and weather conditions at the time escaped rather quickly.
So SCC- question for you.
How do you Initial Attack (IA ) for forty plus miles from the Four Peaks turn off to the Roosevelt Lake turn off?
Is that some new type of “aggressive” attack?
I think stating more aggressive ‘firing operations’ is suitable for the Bush Fire, right- sir?
What about the forty plus miles along the highway- was that part of the aggressive initial attack or the aggressive firing operations?
The Woodbury Fire overhead were told to let it go, isn’t that right, SCC?
Air resources were cancelled at the Forest level, isn’t that correct?
Why burn off large amounts of the Superstition Mountains?
In my lifetime, I will not see the beauty I once hiked…
Have you sir watched or measured the ‘burn scars’ to see how many miles apart the fires were on the Bush or any of the fires from last Season…you will find the distance between the fire on the ground quite interesting that using the word ‘escape’ would fail to be a suitable word for the Bush Fire or other fires.
Talking to the local authority of that ‘Bush Fire’ area- depending on the rainfall – it will wipe out watersheds … roads…
mudslides will come … erosion.
I think there is a better way to handle each Fire Season.
Don’t you?
I am trying to figure it out each Fire Season how to keep men and women safe…
I think the word ‘escape’ needs to be looked at a little deeper…that is what I do as a housewife hiker.
Thank you for the feedback.
I will agree to have a different look at the Fires….
My look and details are just that- my perception.
The beauty of a free country.
Two discussions, one one year, the other 2019. Bush fire, Heavy IA and A/C response, not much daylight left when start was dispatched. Continual outflanking of the crews. I am curious as to your solution on how to “better handle the fire season?” Woodbury Fire, I cannot speak to. Free thoughts, free opinions for sure. Just curious on what you think would have made the difference as the Initial Attack IC?
Reply to ***
I will say this…
That wind yesterday has me in a sinus pressure headache today. Nap time 💤 seems more like it versus getting too much into Fire Season 2021 and my thoughts.
Getting older with health concerns doing my best to stay on top of current events has not been a smooth path…
Each time I go to sleep, wondering… will I awake? Each time I wake up in excruciating pain hoping my brain ss procedure soon helps alleviate some of those immediate areas.
Okay, what is the best way to answer that question of yours “***” …
How about…-Actually allow aggressive initial and extended attack, including effective air support and reasonable and responsible firing operations. And of course, stop lying / omitting to the public and making false, lame excuses with only a grain of truth in their news conferences and news releases. Retrain public information officers and media how Wildland Fire works…
And listening to and heeding the counsel of competent IA resources would go a long way to regaining the confidence of their employees and the general public-
I will chew on your inquiry and sleep on it…get back later to you…
Until then…enjoy this fine day. It is a wonderful day that the good Lord provided for us all…right.
When I feel less crappy and can give this the focused attention I will write more.
What is your source on zero HLCO platforms? Not the news we all are hearing.
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