FAA reports Tanker 96’s landing gear collapsed upon landing

air tanker Medford Klamthon Fire
File photo of Tanker 96 at Medford, Oregon July 5, 2018. Photo by Tim Crippin.

Originally published at 3:19 p.m. PDT July 29, 2020

CAL FIRE still has not released any details about the mishap that occurred at about 6 p.m. PDT July 29 at the Rohnerville Airport in northern California, except that there were no injuries.

The FAA in their very brief preliminary information about the incident said the landing gear on the S-2T air tanker collapsed as it was landing at the airport near Fortuna 15 miles south of Eureka. The FAA described the damage as “minor”.

A recording of radio traffic from the incident posted on the Redheaded Blackbelt website included this:

Tanker 96 hit the ground. Left tire is popped. Like to request Fortuna Fire Department. Additionally, Tanker 96 is off the end of the runway. Currently out of service.

Six minutes later when Rohnerville Fire Department was called out, the dispatcher said it was “non injury”.

We will update this article after CAL FIRE releases information.

Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Bean. Typos or errors, report them HERE.

Pay for California state firefighters cut by 7.5%

CAL FIRE dozer and transport
Dozer and transport for the Nevada Yuba Placer Unit of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. CAL FIRE photo, March, 2019.

Budget problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in pay cuts for many employees of the state of California.

In May, 2020 Governor Gavin Newsom said he would seek a 10 percent pay cut for state workers, but the changes in salary had to be negotiated with numerous labor unions.  The reductions could be accomplished by modifying various types of special pay, overtime, vacation time, or health insurance. By the July 1 deadline all but one of the smaller unions had agreed to the changes.

The deal worked out by the firefighters union, CAL FIRE Local 2881, was an overall 7.5% cut while receiving two flexible days off each month. That includes a 4.4% reduction in their retirement health care, resulting in a 3.1% cut in take-home pay. The changes take effect this month.

More information is at the Sacramento Bee.

Two CAL FIRE C-130 air tankers spotted at McClellan

CAL Fire air tanker 118 C-130
CAL FIRE air tanker 118 at Sacramento McClellan Airport. Photographed by John Vogel March 4, 2020.

John Vogel photographed two of CAL FIRE’s HC-130H soon-to-be-air-tankers. He spotted them at Sacramento McClellan Airport on March 4, 2020.

I wonder what CAL FIRE is going to carry in the luggage racks on top? 😉

CAL Fire air tanker 116 C-130
CAL FIRE air tanker 116 at Sacramento McClellan Airport. Photographed by John Vogel March 4, 2020.

As far as I know the internal removable retardant delivery systems have not yet been installed. If anyone has an update on this, let us know.