A DC-10 Very Large Air Tanker drops retardant near Pontatoc Ridge on the Bighorn Fire north of Tucson, June 11, 2020. Photo by Tim Peterson.
The Bighorn Fire has spread to within a mile of the northern suburbs of Tucson, Arizona. Since the fire started from lightning on June 5 it has burned 4,769 acres, less than a mile from the northernmost suburbs of Tucson.
The fire was active Wednesday night, with flames being pushed downhill by downslope winds. On Thursday temperatures up to 106 degrees with low humidity will increase fire activity and it will again be highly visible on the front range of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Crews will work to hold the fire perimeter and continue building fire line, tying into control features such as roads and rock outcroppings. Aerial resources will support the crews on the ground with water and retardant drops.
Over the next several days communities can expect to see crews and apparatus working in and around subdivisions in the Catalina Foothills.
Resources assigned to the fire include 9 hand crews, 15 fire engines, 7 helicopters, and 10 water tenders.
Map showing the location of the Bighorn Fire at 4:12 a.m. MDT June 11, 2020. (at the arrow)
The map below shows heat on fires detected by satellites over the last two days only, and does not include the previous five days like the map farther down.
Heat detected on fires in northwest Mexico during the 48-hour period ending at 3:20 p.m. PDT June 12, 2020.
(Originally published at 2:43 p.m. PDT June 11, 2020)
Map showing the location of heat from fires in northwest Mexico detected by a satellite, updated at 2:30 p.m. PDT June 11, 2020.
The smoke map we posted earlier today showed a great deal of smoke being created in northwest Mexico. Here is a map with the locations of those fires.
Areas in California, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico are heavily affected
The forecast for near surface and vertically integrated wildfire smoke at 6 p.m. MDT June 11, 2020. NOAA.
Not only are the wildfires in Arizona and New Mexico putting a great deal of smoke into the atmosphere, but several large fires in Mexico east of Tijuana are also contributing.
Map showing some of the recent large fires in Arizona and New Mexico. June 11, 2020.
The map shows 13 of the more significant wildfires that have occurred in Arizona and New Mexico over the last several days. Firefighters in southeast Arizona, in particular, have been very busy.
There are several wild fires mostly south and east of #Phoenix this evening with very prominent plumes. The #BigHornFire near Tucson has a plume reaching the far East Valley. The smoke doesn’t disappear at night but this Geo Color imagery fades it out. #AZWXpic.twitter.com/zT7ghuPhSw
Map showing heat detected by a satellite on the Lime Fire at 3:12 a.m. PDT June 11, 2020. The fire is probably larger than indicated because light fuels could have burned and cooled, making it impossible for the sensors to detect heat in those areas.
Ventura County Fire Department reported at 7 a.m. on Thursday that the Lime Fire west of Lake Piru has burned 450 acres. There were two minor injuries last night.
The county’s web site still shows a mandatory evacuation in effect, but reduced in size.
Lime Fire. Screenshot from Ventura County FD video at 6:50 a.m. PDT June 11, 2020.
Night-flying helicopters dropped water until about 1:45 a.m. Thursday and as the fire activity decreased significantly, all aircraft were released including an air attack fixed wing.
(Originally published at 7:47 p.m. PDT June 10, 2020)
Map showing the approximate location of the Lime Fire west of Lake Piru in southern California June 10, 2020.
Mandatory evacuations are in effect for a wildfire that started late Wednesday afternoon west of Lake Piru in southern California. The fire, estimated at about 200 acres, is about three miles north of the town of Piru which is on the north side of Highway 126 between Castaic and Fillmore.
Evacuation map for the Lime Fire west of Lake Piru, valid at 7:15 p.m. PDT June 10, 2020. Ventura County Emergency Operations Center.
At one point at least four air tankers were assigned and due to life threat they were designated as “no divert” to another fire. Later, air attack which was directing the air show had to leave to refuel, so all air tankers were told to return to base until a replacement air attack arrived on scene.
Structures near Lake Piru are threatened.
An MD-87 air tanker drops on the Lime Fire. Ventura Co. Fire Dept. photo, June 10, 2020.
At 7:10 p.m. a nearby weather station recorded 84 degrees, 15 percent relative humidity, with 14 mph west-southwest winds gusting to 19.
We will update this article as more information becomes available.
The Lime Fire as seen from a camera at Oat North, 6:59 p.m. PDT June 10, 2020
Helicopter drops on the Lime Fire. Ventura Co. Fire Dept. photo, June 10, 2020.
Topics included testing and the availability of personal protective equipment, as well as the availability of air tankers
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, June 9, 2020, about about wildfire management in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
At a hearing today before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources two of the four witnesses and several of the Senators appeared remotely. With the announced topic being wildfire management in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, three Senators expressed strong opinions about testing and personal protective equipment (PPE) being available for all firefighters.
In his prepared testimony, Norm McDonald Director of Fire and Aviation for the Alaska Division of Forestry, explained that all fire personnel upon arrival in Alaska are being asked to take a COVID-19 test.
Norm McDonald, Dir Fire and Aviation, Alaska Div of Forestry
“For federal employees,” he said,”this is voluntary, but an expectation memo is attached to each resource order outlining the expectation along with other mitigation measures that are being employed. Testing occurs at either of the two major jetports upon arrival, and results are available in 24-48 hours. The incoming staff are asked to quarantine at their billets until test results are provided. Provisions have been made for urgent demands for resources on the fireline, a test still occurs, but staff deploy as needed. Any positive results will be notified and subsequently isolated and cared for while contact tracing occurs.”
The policy in Alaska set the stage for discussions about testing being available for all federal firefighters.
L to R- John Phipps, Forest Service Deputy Chief State and Private Forestry, and, Amanda Kaster, Acting Dep Asst Secretary Land and Minerals
Amanda Kaster, the Department of the Interior’s Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land & Minerals, said all DOI firefighters are not being tested, adding, “[F]irefighter safety is truly paramount for the Department, and as this fire season continues we are going to continue to explore ways to better protect our firefighters.” (at 1:05:30 in the video recording of the hearing)
Ranking Member Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia made it clear that he and the “rest of the committee” felt that testing was necessary for all firefighters. “We want mandatory testing going into the fire season.”
Senator Manchin brought this up again in a discussion with the other Senators at 1:08:43, saying, “Testing for firefighters is imperative.”
“Madam Chair, I want to begin by saying I think you and Senator Manchin are making a lot of extraordinarily important points,” said Oregon Senator Ron Wyden (at 1:13:00). “I’ve been listening to what the agencies are saying in Washington, D.C. this morning, not the folks out in the field,” referring to witnesses from the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of the Interior. “They’re talking about ‘exploring’ these critical issues, they’re using the words ‘considering’, ‘consulting’. I don’t see any urgency needed to respond in a uniform, practical way to what you and Senator Manchin are talking about. So I really appreciate you trying to point out that fire season is happening NOW [hitting the table], COVID is happening NOW [hitting the table again], and the idea that we’re going to hear about a lot of ‘considering’ and ‘consulting’ just is not going to protect our courageous firefighters nor is it going to protect folks in the rural West.”
Since Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen and Director of Fire and Aviation Shawna Legarza did not walk down the street to attend the hearing, they sent John Phipps, the FS Deputy Chief for State and Private Forestry in their place. When asked if firefighters would be covered by Workmen’s Compensation after contracting COVID-19 on the job, he said it will be “considered on a case by case basis by the Department of Labor for coverage.”
Senator Manchin responded, “We’re going to do what we can in this committee to make sure we get clarity to that so these people do not have to worry, they’re not struggling, and their families do not have to worry. You were told by DOL. Maybe we can get to DOL. We’ll get them here.”
Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico said some of his individual constituents, firefighters, have told him that they are not being provided with sufficient PPE.
He asked, “Are fire personnel currently limited in the number of masks, for example, that they are allowed per week?”
“I’d say no,” responded Mr. Phipps. “We have in our interagency checklist for mobilization for ordering or receiving adequate PPE is one of the requirements. And so, if they don’t have adequate equipment, personal protective equipment, they’re not going to be on the fire.”
“OK. So, I will follow up,” said Senator Heinrich. “I am definitely hearing that from some constituents. Madam Chair, I think I am out of time, but I want to say how much I appreciate this hearing because I think we have our work cut out for us.”
“Yes, I think we do,” Chairman Murkowski agreed.
Aerial Firefighting
(Opinions follow)
Shifting gears, the topic of fire aviation came up in the hearing.
At 2:05:00 into the testimony, the Forest Service’s strategy for keeping the air tanker fleet at a minuscule level was on display — again.
John Phipps, Forest Service, Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry.
How would the average person or average Senator interpret what John Phipps, Forest Service Deputy Chief for State and Private Forestry, said in response to a question from the Senator from Nevada?
Senator Catherine Masto: (partly unintelligible) …What do you anticipate as the need from the federal partners to increase air tanker support? I know how crucial that is.
John Phipps: We have up to 35 large air tankers. I think it’s important to understand that we have access to in the interagency environment for example the Department of the Interior has 100 Single Engine Aircraft, air tankers, under contract and depending on the situation and the need we have access to that and we are well under way for our planning and preparedness for the upcoming western fire season.
Senator Catherine Masto: Is there anything we can do at the federal level to assist you in that?
John Phipps: Not at this time.
Senator Catherine Masto: That’s good to hear. Thank you.
In other words, there is nothing to see here. Move along.
The average person or average Senator might think, “Holy crap, there are 135 air tankers ready to fight fires today? How could anyone ask for more? This is great!”
And that is why the number of large air tankers on exclusive use contracts has been stuck at 9 to 21 for the last 15 years. The Forest Service says they have three times the air tankers they actually have, they do not need more, Congress accepts their testimony without question, then moves on to another topic.
The truth is far different. And Mr. Phipps knew it. At best he was intentionally misleading the United States Senators. Some may call it lying. Saying “up to 35” could mean anywhere from zero to 35, and is meaningless. The Senators should have called him on this.
Today there are 13 large air tankers on exclusive use contracts. If protests that have been filed do not change anything, after the GAO makes their ruling due by July 15, 2020 there could be 5 more, to bring the total to 18.
A study completed for the Forest Service in 1996 (on page 61) recommended there be 41 large turbine-powered air tankers with a capacity of 3,000 to 5,000 gallons, essentially standards that are now the “next-generation” air tankers used today:
"Twenty P-3A, aircraft, ten C-130B aircraft, and 11 C-130E aircraft. This would provide for a [turbine-powered] fleet that is essentially 75% 3,000 gallon capacity and 25% 5,000 gallon capacity."
Single engine air tankers have their place in the firefighter’s tool box, but 700 to 800 gallons per load is far different from the 3,000 to 19,000 gallons carried by large and very large air tankers.
There are additional large air tankers on Call When Needed contracts signed in December with six companies for a total of 35 aircraft. The number “35” is misleading because most if not all of the 13 to 18 large air tankers on exclusive use (EU) contracts also have CWN contracts, meaning they would be removed from the CWN list. So there might only be 17 to 22 on CWN. And that assumes all could pass the inspections required by this month. In December some of them did not exist as a complete air tanker.
CWN aircraft may or may not be immediately ready during the fire season, with mechanics and crew members available to suddenly drop what they were doing and start flying fires. In 2017 the average daily rate for large federal CWN air tankers was 54 percent higher than aircraft on exclusive use contracts. But CWN costs are charged to the virtually unlimited fire suppression accounts, so the Forest Service does not care about using taxpayer’s dollars in that manner. And they are not held accountable.
I did not see in the hearing any mention of the delays in releasing the Aerial Firefighting Use and Effectiveness Study that has been going on for eight years, but maybe I missed it. (Update: it was not discussed.) Chief Christiansen has been testifying for the last two years before this committee saying it would be released “soon”. When pressed in February by Colorado Senator Cory Gardner, who last year made his opinion about the delay very clear, she said it would be released “this Spring”. Senator Gardner said, “Before June?” She said, “Yes”. I did not see the Senator in today’s hearing. (Update: Senator Gardner was not at the hearing.)
