Author

Special tribute to Smokey Bear by New Jersey Forest Fire Service

Bill GabbertAugust 11, 2019UncategorizedNew Jersey, Smokey Bear2 Comments

Smokey Bear video New Jersey — Screenshot from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service video below.

As part of the celebration of the 75th year of the Smokey Bear wildfire prevention campaign, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service produced this video tribute.

Smokey is reminiscing about old times until the video switches to present day halfway though when he is called out to a wildfire. The video is set to the song “Nostalgic” by the New Jersey based band A R I Z O N A.

The video showcases many notable locations throughout the state including Mt. Tammany, Storybook Land, and the Statue of Liberty.

Wildfire smoke maps, August 10, 2019

Bill GabbertAugust 10, 2019Uncategorizedsmoke

These maps predict the distribution of smoke from wildfires at 5 p.m. PDT August 10, 2019.

The first map is for vertically integrated smoke, depicting all of the smoke in a vertical column, including smoke high in Earth’s atmosphere. That is the smoke you see at sunrise and sunset.

The second map shows near surface smoke that will hover within 8 meters (26 feet) of the ground—the kind responsible for burning eyes and aggravating asthma.

Forecast for vertically integrated wildfire smoke at 5 p.m. PDT August 10, 2019. NOAA.

Forecast for near surface wildfire smoke at 5 p.m. PDT August 10, 2019. NOAA.

New memorial to be unveiled today for the crew of Air Tanker 130 in Walker, California

Bill GabbertAugust 10, 2019August 10, 2019Uncategorized1 Comment

Three crew members were killed in 2002 when their C-130 crashed

air tanker 130 crash walker california — A screenshot from the KOLO video of Air Tanker 130 breaking up near Walker, California in 2002.

(This article was first published at Fire Aviation)

The memorial in Walker, California honoring Steve Wass, Craig LaBare, and Mike Davis was showing its age after having been in place for a decade and a half. Today at 11:30 a.m. PDT, August 10, the new memorial along Highway 395 for the crew of Air Tanker 130 will be unveiled near the site where their C-130, Tanker 130, crashed. Walker is about a 70-minute drive south of South Lake Tahoe, CA. Coordinates for the memorial: 38.5200599, -119.4844933 Map.

Lightning and rain in the Northwest, Red Flag Warning in five states

Bill GabbertAugust 10, 2019August 10, 2019Uncategorizedlightning, Red Flag Warning3 Comments

lightning precipitation August 9 — Lightning and precipitation for the 24-hour period ending at 6 a.m. MDT August 10, 2019. Scroll down to see a map showing precipitation for the 48-hour period ending at 5:15 a.m. PDT August 10, 2019.

Thunderstorms were prevalent in the Northwest United States on Friday with many areas receiving rain ranging from a trace to about half an inch in some locations in Northwest California and Southwest Oregon.

Thunderstorms apparently affected the route of Air Tanker 911, a DC-10, as it ferried from Moses Lake, Washington to Sacramento McClellan Friday night, lengthening the planned 600-mile flight to 749 miles.

Tanker 911 MWH to MCC — During a ferry flight from Moses Lake, Washington to Sacramento McClellan, Air Tanker 911, a DC-10, apparently had to divert around thunderstorms in Oregon, increasing the planned 600-mile flight to 749 miles, arriving at MCC at 9:27 p.m. PDT August 9, 2019. Flightaware map.

precipitation 48 hours August 10, 2019 — Precipitation during the 48-hour period ending at 5:15 a.m. PDT August 10, 2019.

Some rain will continue on Saturday across Washington, Montana, and Northern Idaho.

Precipitation forecast Northwest US — Precipitation forecast for the Northwest US at 11 a.m. PDT August 10, 2019.

The threat of thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds, or dry fuels have triggered Red Flag Warnings across six states

Falling tree causes serious injury to firefighter

Bill GabbertAugust 9, 2019Uncategorizedaccident, Oregon

On August 6, 2019 a 72-hour report provided information about a serious injury that occurred August 3 on the East Evans Creek Fire about 18 air miles north of Medford, Oregon:

“On August 3, 2019, at approximately 0230 (PST), a snag fell and hit a member of a 20 person hand crew that was building direct handline on the East Evans Creek Fire during initial attack. The firefighter struck by the snag sustained serious injuries to the head and facial regions.

“The hand crew, along with adjacent fireline resources, initiated an emergency extraction of the injured firefigther via SKED stretcher from the tree strike site on the fireline to a pickup truck, and then to a staged ambulance that was already enroute. From there, the injured firefighter was transferred to a Lifeflight helicopter and airlifted to a regional medical center for treatment.

“The injured firefighter remains in the hospital in critical condition, and a hospital liaison has been assigned to assist the family during this time.

“A Lessons Learned Review Team has been assigned, and is working with the Butte Falls Field Office and Oregon Department of Forestry in Medford to provide a review and detailed report of the incident. The intent of the review is to learn from the events surrounding this incident and prevent future occurrences.”

The August 9, 2019 National Situation Report had the East Evans Creek Fire listed as a suppression fire at 156 acres with 10 hand crews, 16 fire engines, and 5 helicopters for a total of 287 personnel.

Firefighter fatality after training hike

Bill GabbertAugust 9, 2019Uncategorizedlodd

The U.S. Fire Administration received notice of the following firefighter fatality:

Yaroslav Katkov

Firefighter
CAL FIRE, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

On Sunday, July 28, 2019 Firefighter Katkov was on a training hike with his crew in San Diego County. During the hike he suffered a medical emergency and was immediately flown to Temecula Valley Hospital in Riverside County where he passed away on Monday, July 29, 2019.

Age: 29
Gender: Male
Status: Wildland Part-Time
Years of Service: 1

Our sincere condolences go out to Yaroslav’s family, friends, and co-workers.