Author

30th anniversary of the Spanish Ranch fire

Bill GabbertAugust 15, 2009June 30, 2019Uncategorizedbooks, California, history, Spanish Ranch Fire9 Comments

The La Brea fire is burning across the highway from where the 1979 Spanish Ranch burned 30 years ago today. The August 15, 1979 wildfire claimed the lives of four California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) firefighters who were working on an indirect fireline 40 miles east of Santa Maria, California. Those four firefighters were Captain Ed Marty, and firefighters Scott Cox, Ron Lorant and Steve Manley.

Joe Valencia wrote, Area Ignition, which is a book about the 1979 fire. Joe also put together a document on the Lessons Learned site that gives a brief summary of the incident.

Here is the cover page from Joe’s document.

The Spanish Ranch fire is one of the in our recently revised partial list, by date of the year, of some of the more famous, or infamous, multiple fatality wildland fires around the world over the last 150 years.

Martin Mars video

Bill GabbertAugust 13, 2009December 5, 2019Uncategorizedair tanker, Infrared, Martin Mars

Here is a video of the 7,200-gallon Martin Mars air tanker doing some training and pilot re-currency in southern California. Some of the video was shot in infrared, probably from the lead helicopter that works with the aircraft. The audio has been disabled.

(THE VIDEO IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE)

The Martin Mars is currently working on the La Brea fire in southern California.

Midwest Helicopters on DIY Network

Bill GabbertAugust 13, 2009September 6, 2018UncategorizedDesiree Horton, helicopter

Desiree Horton, the helicopter pilot who writes the blog The Adventures of Chopper Chick! is now working for Midwest Helicopters out of Chicago and just recently ferried one of their S-58T’s to Boise “for fire season”. Her blog is always interesting to read.

She pointed out that the DIY Network featured her company in a 20 minute segment in which they were lifting heavy equipment to the tops of buildings in downtown Chicago. It’s fascinating to watch.

South Dakota, Fossil fire

Bill GabbertAugust 12, 2009December 3, 2009Uncategorized

Today I took some photos of action around the Fossil fire, which is about 8 miles northwest of Hot Springs, South Dakota, west of Wind Cave National Park. The last I heard, air attack was estimating the size at approximately 10 acres and the spread had been slowed.

It was a walk-in, and in addition to the firefighters on the ground, they had one single engine air tanker, one helicopter, and a dozer. A second helicopter, a national guard Blackhawk, and a heavy air tanker from Grand Junction, Colorado were also ordered; I don’t know if they ever arrived.

UPDATE at 10:30 a.m. MT Aug. 12

The local Type 3 Incident Management Team was ordered, but the fire was contained Tuesday night after burning 12 acres. Good job by the firefighters on this lightning-caused fire which initially at least, was not accessible by engines.

Oh, and the Rapid City Journal published my photo of the helicopter dipping out of the portable tank in the meadow.

A helicopter dipping at Cold Brook reservoir.

A helicopter dipping out of a portable tank near the fire. There were 3-4 water tenders shuttling water from quite a distance to keep the tanks full.

Single Engine Air Tanker #839 doing a hot refuel and reload at Hot Springs Airport.

Santa Maria air tanker base gets heavy use again

Bill GabbertAugust 11, 2009August 25, 2019Uncategorizedair tanker, California, Santa Maria Air Tanker Base

The air tanker base that was down-graded earlier this year from a full-time base to a call when needed base is again seeing very heavy use as air tankers reload there while working on the La Brea fire 24 miles east of the base. In May during the Jesusita fire the Santa Maria air tanker base set a new national record for the most fire retardant pumped in a single day–158,000 gallons, according to an article in the Santa Barbara Independent by Nick Welsh.

On Saturday, the first day of the La Brea fire, eight air tankers worked the fire. For Tuesday, ten air tankers have been requested, including four heavies, four S-2s, and one single engine air tanker. And, the 7,200-gallon Martin Mars will arrive in the area at noon today to work the fire and will be refilling its tanks by scooping water from Cachuma reservoir which is 24 miles south of the fire.

Five type 1 helicopters (three Aircranes, one S-61, and one Vertol 107) and at least four type 2 helicopters (all Bell 212s) are expected to be working the fire today.

HERE is a link to a video at KSBY about the air tanker base and the La Brea fire.

Decker fire, 50 years ago today

Bill GabbertAugust 8, 2009August 8, 2013UncategorizedCalifornia, Decker Fire, El Cariso, history, Loop Fire

On August 8, 1959 the El Cariso Hot Shots experienced the first of two fire tragedies the crew would be involved in. The fire was the Decker Fire located in the foothills above Lake Elsinore, California. Seven people were overrun by fire and six lost their lives. Three were members of the El Cariso Hotshot Crew.

In 1966 12 members of the crew were killed when they were entrapped on the Loop Fire.

For more info: