News and opinion about wildland fire
The map of fires in Texas shows the fires that have been burning throughout the state for the last six days. The red and orange dots represent heat detected by satellites over the last 24 hours, and the lack of them reflect the diminished wildfire activity since higher humidity moved into the state on Wednesday. The yellow areas show heat from fires that was detected one to six days ago.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized1 Comment on Humidity slows Texas fires, DC-10 drops 58,000 gallons 
The humid weather that moved into Texas on Wednesday and Thursday has slowed the spread of the fires, after 1 million acres in the state have been blackened since the first of the year.
Here is the status of the five largest fires in the country as of Thursday morning, all of them in Texas. As you can see from the “size change in the last 24 hours” column, there was much less fire growth than in previous days. The data is from the National Interagency Coordination Center.
The disagreement about the inspections on the P-3 Orions that caused Aero Union to voluntarily ground their eight air tankers has been resolved, following a meeting on Tuesday between the company and the U.S. Forest Service, according to a spokesman for the National Interagency Coordination Center in Boise that Wildfire Today talked with on Thursday.
Today there are seven air tankers in Texas, plus four military MAFFS air tankers. Most heavy air tankers are not on contract this time of the year, so it is not the easiest thing in the world to round them all up and dispatch them to fires.
10 Tanker Air Carrier has two passenger-carrying DC-10 airliners that have been converted into air tankers, carrying, instead of 250 to 380 passengers, 11,600 gallons of retardant. When they received the call about the fires in Texas, both of their DC-10s were undergoing heavy maintenance which they typically do in March and April each year. They were able to button one up and put it back in service fairly quickly, but the second one was torn down and too deep into the maintenance to put it in the air on short notice.
But 10 Tanker Air Carrier sent one DC-10 to Midland, Texas on Sunday and put it to work. Tuesday it flew five missions, dropping a total of 58,000 gallons of retardant on the Wildcat fire.
Most large air tankers do not always completely fill their retardant tanks. They have to carry less than the maximum capacity depending on the density altitude, which is affected by the temperature, humidity, and the altitude at which the aircraft is operating. As the altitude, temperature, and the humidity increase, an aircraft can carry less weight. But the DC-10 always carries 11,600 gallons of retardant weighing about 100,000 pounds. This is due to the huge fuel capacity which enabled the aircraft to carry passengers on 10 to 11 hour flights halfway around the world without having to refuel. The DC-10 air tanker can vary the amount of fuel carried to offset any density altitude issues.
10 Tanker Air Carrier has one of their DC-10s under an exclusive use 3-year contract with CalFire which goes through 2012. Their second DC-10 is on a call when needed contract and is only activated when it is specifically needed. Rick Hatton, the CEO and President of the company, told Wildfire Today that if the second ship is put on an exclusive use contract, they have the financing available to build a third DC-10 air tanker.
The tanks that are bolted onto the bottoms of their aircraft are the same ones that the Erickson Air Crane helicopters use, but the helicopters only use one instead of the three that the DC-10s carry. The three tanks on the DC-10 can be filled in eight minutes if three retardant hoses are used.
Mr. Hatton told us that with the humid weather that has moved into Texas, their DC-10 may be released by the end of this week.
KTXS has a good video of the DC-10 dropping. Be sure and click on “full screen”.
ESRI.com has an interesting interactive map which provides a variety of information about the fires.
National Geographic has a selection of excellent photos of the fires.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized24 Comments on WHEREAS, the Texas governor implements a new firefighting strategy Texas governor Rick Perry today issued an official proclamation implementing a new strategy for suppressing the fires that have burned over a million acres in his state so far this year. Here is an excerpt:
…WHEREAS, a combination of higher than normal temperatures, low precipitation and low relative humidity has caused an extreme fire danger over most of the State, sparking more than 8,000 wildfires which have cost several lives, engulfed more than 1.8 million acres of land and destroyed almost 400 homes, causing me to issue an ongoing disaster declaration since December of last year; and
WHEREAS, throughout our history, both as a state and as individuals, Texans have been strengthened, assured and lifted up through prayer; it seems right and fitting that the people of Texas should join together in prayer to humbly seek an end to this devastating drought and these dangerous wildfires;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICK PERRY, Governor of Texas, under the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State of Texas, do hereby proclaim the three-day period from Friday, April 22, 2011, to Sunday, April 24, 2011, as Days of Prayer for Rain in the State of Texas. I urge Texans of all faiths and traditions to offer prayers on that day for the healing of our land, the rebuilding of our communities and the restoration of our normal and robust way of life.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my Office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 21st day of April, 2010.
RICK PERRY
Governor of Texas
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized1 Comment on Don’t perspire while fighting fire From AJC.com:
An Atlanta firefighter suffered second-degree burns when the heat from a house fire and his body sweat combined to form steam inside his protective suit, according to fire department spokesman Capt. Jolyon Bundrige.
Bundrige said the firefighter was exercising when the call came to respond to a house fire on Ridge Avenue in northwest Atlanta, so he just put on his gear. Bundrige said he was “sweaty and clammy” from his workout and that created a “steam burst” once the fire heated up the suit.
The firefighter, whose name was not released, was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, treated and then discharged Monday night.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized2 Comments on Texas firefighter dies from line of duty wildland fire burns Firefigher Close Calls is reporting a line of duty death on a wildland fire:
We regret to advise you that the Cactus (Texas) Firefighter who suffered 3rd degree burns a week ago last Saturday at a huge grassfire has died in the Line of Duty. FF Elias Jaquez suffered burns to 60% of his body in that fire. FF Jaquez, 49, a husband and father of four daughters, has been a Volunteer Firefighter at the fire for slightly less than two years.
As you will recall, FF Jaquez, and 3 other Firefighters were injured after a Dumas and Cactus fire apparatus became stuck in the rough terrain. The Cactus crew was going on to de-flank the fire, the Dumas truck got stuck in the sand and the Cactus fire crew came up beside them grab the other FF’s, and then they got stuck. The heroic attempts took FF Jaquez’s life. As always, our most sincere condolences to all those affected, especially the family of FF Elias Jaquez.
Our thoughts are with Mr. Jaquez’s family and co-workers.
UPDATE at 12:25 a.m. MT, April 20, 2011:
The International Association of Wildland Fire distributed the following information today via FireNet:
Firefighter Jaquez and three other firefighters were injured eleven days ago when a fire truck from the Dumas (Texas) Fire Department (mostly volunteer) became stuck in sandy rough terrain while suppressing wildland fire in grassland. The Cactus fire crew came up beside the Dumas fire truck to extricate the Dumas crew when the Cactus Volunteer Fire Department truck also became stuck in the sand. The crews were entrapped in the fire and Firefighter Jaquez suffered 3rd degree burns over 60% of his body and was taken to the University Medical Center, Lubbock Burn Center for treatment where he remained until succumbing to his injuries.
Unofficial news reports indicate that Firefighter Jaquez may have tripped over a down electrical line before being entrapped, and that he had on fire protective pants but not a protective shirt during the incident.
Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Uncategorized2 Comments on Service life guidelines for firefighters’ helmets The National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s Fire Equipment Working Team has issued guidelines for the service life of firefighters’ helmets. Basically, a helmet should be thrown out if it has been more than 10 years since it was manufactured, or if it has been more than 5 years since it was manufactured but with an unknown date of issue.
Here is an excerpt from a memo written by Ralph Gonzales, Acting Chair of the NWCG’s Fire Equipment Working Team, distributed April 19, 2011 under a National Interagency Fire Center letterhead:
There have been recurring fire community concerns regarding the appropriate service life for safety helmets (hardhats), most recently raised after the 2010 fire season. The direction from helmet manufacturers on their product’s service life is somewhat ambiguous, with variables such as the conditions of storage, use, and chemical or heat exposure making a specific expiration or service life age for all helmets impractical. The national caches require clear guidance on helmet service life in order to implement appropriate practices for the issue and refurbishment of these items.
The NFES Subcommittee and the Refurbishment Unit are introducing the following hardhat decision key be to be used for determining hardhat service life. In addition, a supporting “Hardhat Service Life” flowchart has been developed (see attachment). The helmet service life protocols are based on service life recommendations provided by helmet manufacturers in combination with an analysis of the fire program’s support and operating conditions. This decision key is based on a combination of factors including helmet manufacture date, date placed in service, and a used or unused condition.
Here are the helmet inspection guidelines, as detailed in the memo:
Inspection Guidelines: (From Your Hardhat: Inspection and Maintenance 0267 2331. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Missoula Technology and Development Center. 4p.):
Inspection
Both the hardhat’s shell and suspension system must be inspected frequently for signs of wear and degradation. Field personnel who wear hardhats should check them at least monthly, if not more frequently.
The shell should be inspected routinely for dents, cracks, nicks, gouges, and any damage that might reduce protection. Any hardhat that shows signs of worn or damaged parts should be removed from service immediately.
The shell material may be degrading if the shell becomes stiff, brittle, faded, or appears dull or chalky. With further degradation, the shell’s surface may flake or delaminate. A hardhat should be replaced at the first sign of any of these conditions.
Here is a simple hardhat inspection for field employees, supervisors, and cache personnel.
- Compress the shell from both sides about 1 inch with your hands and release the pressure without dropping the shell. The shell should return to its original shape quickly, exhibiting elasticity. Compare the elasticity with that of a new shell. If the shell being tested does not have as much elasticity as the new shell, or if the shell cracks, it should be replaced immediately.
- Inspect the suspension system closely for cracks, cut or frayed shell straps, torn headband or size adjustment slots, loss of pliability, or other signs of wear. Remove and replace any suspension that is damaged.
Many people will be surprised that a helmet (I prefer the term “hard hat”) must be thrown out after five to ten years. I will assume that the memo is only referring to plastic hard hats, and wonder what the service life of aluminum hard hats is. Some of us lament the decision by the wildland fire agencies to require non-electrical conductive hard hats, when most wildland firefighters don’t work around electrical wires.
Thanks Dick
