View from an S2T air tanker while dropping on the Still Fire, Sept. 26, 2022. Still image from the video below.The CAL FIRE Air Attack Base in Grass Valley, California posted this video on September 26 showing the view from an S2T air tanker and an OV-10 Bronco Air Attack aircraft as firefighters in the sky assist personnel on the ground on the Still Fire.
Internal and external cameras on the S2T captured the action from the cockpit as well as looking from the aircraft’s belly to the rear as 1,200 gallons of retardant is dropped on the fire. The Air Attack ship also had cameras and you can listen to the radio traffic with the helicopters, air tankers, and the Incident Commander on the ground as they coordinate tactics to stop a fast-moving wildfire which was threatening multiple homes and other structures.
The fire was held to 44 acres after it was attacked by firefighters on the ground and a total of 7 air tankers and 2 helicopters.
16 Comments
The Still Fire was started by a knucklehead with several marijuana greenhouses on his property using a field mower on a day of extreme fire danger.
The grows are everywhere here in Nevada County. As are the get rich quick idiots that have bought property here.
That was a GREAT video. I have now bookmarked their NEW YouTube channel.
The air traffic is great, the music unobtrusive. I rate this person’s videos five thumbs up, even though I only have two of them.
Found the music to be a huge distraction to the radio traffic!
Video was terrific! Flew the IA out of RDD for CalFire and the tone out really brought my heart level up. The background music was distracting and unnecessary.
Well Done! You can’t please all the people all the time. When it’s time to “build ” line on a threatening evolving fire this is where the VLAT’s (DC10 or 747) are a key player. Interesting of all the type one helicopters contracted by CalFire this fire season, this area seemed to be void?
Excellent video combining audio from all involved with the video. Provides all the information to inform the tax payers where and how CALFIRE does their work with their taxes, Well Done ! I miss my ATGS work !!
Before I moved to North Idaho, I lived about a dozen miles from the Grass Valley Air Attack Base. When I heard Air Attack 230, Tanker 88, and Tanker 89 called for a fire, I felt the best were on the way.
By the way, put me down as feeling the music was distracting.
Isn’t proper PPE supposed to be worn during fire mission flights? Asking for a friend.
What “proper PPE” was supposed to be worn?
What it means by proper PPE is, Flight suit sleeves rolled down, nomex gloves. Is he wearing jeans?
I should have mentioned… Tanker 88 was piloted by Aimee.
https://fireaviation.com/2022/08/21/interview-with-abbie-crews-pilot-of-cal-fire-air-tankers/
Abbie, not Aimee.
Old age strikes again.
Always loved watching CalFire (CDF in my day) with their ground and air IA’s. They’ve perfected it more each year. Hats off, and a snappy salute!
Unfortunately followed the trend to put rock music to everything. Rock on, but not as a distraction to an otherwise great video.
Maybe the music was being played inside the air attack airplane to help keep the ATGS enjoying his day; like listening to a car radio while driving. Do you think the color of the flight suit was appropriate? Was he wearing jeans? …
The ST2 Pix. Knot positive but is that plane an ol OV-1 Army plane? Vietnam Era. In the Day our CTARNG KBDL Hanger had a bunch
of Vietnam Pilots. Flew all kinds of stuff over there. One Full Time Guard Peep in Flite ops (transferred later) flew the OV1 and guess what he said had an actual in country flight of 2 OV1″z The other OV1 was Piloted by his father. Also can be flown single pilot. Kinda hard to believe until I was ground guiding an OV1 into the ramp to get fueled. somebody waved thru the windscreen… and it was him. My opinion this guy was a Cool Cat, but nuts.
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