Two pilots were killed July 30, 2020 at the Bishop Fire in southeast Nevada
Continue readingTwo pilots killed in mid-air collision while battling wildfire in Nevada
UPDATED at 10:15 p.m. MDT July 30, 2020
Bishop Fire, from Ella Mountain Lookout July 29, 2020. InciWeb photo.(This article was first published at FireAviation.com)
Two air tankers collided July 30 while working on the Bishop Fire in southeast Nevada.
The Air Tractor Single Engine Air Tankers, SEATs, were involved in a mid-air collision Thursday afternoon according to Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Claire Morville. There was one person on board each aircraft.
At 10 p.m. MDT July 30 a spokesperson for the Bureau of Land Management, Chris Hanefeld, confirmed that the collision occurred earlier in the day at about 12:55 p.m. He said both pilots were killed in the crash. Recovery operations are currently underway and initial notifications are still being made.
“We offer our sincere condolences to the families of the two pilots and to all those working with the BLM Nevada Ely District,” said BLM Nevada State Director Jon Raby.
Map showing heat detected by satellites on the Bishop fire as late as 3 a.m. MDT July 30, 2020.The Bishop fire, reported July 29, has burned 500 acres 14 miles south-southwest of Caliente, Nevada.
The accident occurred near the intersection of Kane Springs Road and Riggs Road, Ms. Morville said.
The fire is on land managed by the BLM. The two privately owned aircraft were under contract to the agency.
SEATs are small airplanes used to support wildland firefighters on the ground. They can deliver up to 800 gallons of fire retardant and operate in areas where larger airtankers cannot.
The names of the pilots have not been released.
Our sincere condolences go out to the pilots’ family, friends, and coworkers.
Bishop Fire map. Data from 7:53 p.m. MDT July 29, 2020. BLM.Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Tom. Typos or errors, report them HERE.
Two air tankers collide near Bishop Fire in Nevada
UPDATED at 10:15 p.m. MDT July 30, 2020
Map showing heat detected by satellites on the Bishop fire as late as 3 a.m. MDT July 30, 2020.Two air tankers collided July 30 while working on the Bishop Fire in southeast Nevada.
The Air Tractor Single Engine Air Tankers, SEATs, were involved in a mid-air collision Thursday afternoon according to Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Claire Morville. There was one person on board each aircraft.
At 10 p.m. MDT July 30 a spokesperson for the Bureau of Land Management, Chris Hanefeld, confirmed that the collision occurred earlier in the day at about 12:55 p.m. He said both pilots were killed in the crash. Recovery operations are currently underway and initial notifications are still being made.
“We offer our sincere condolences to the families of the two pilots and to all those working with the BLM Nevada Ely District,” said BLM Nevada State Director Jon Raby.
The Bishop fire, reported July 29, has burned 500 acres 14 miles south-southwest of Caliente, Nevada.
The accident occurred near the intersection of Kane Springs Road and Riggs Road, Ms. Morville said.
The fire is on land managed by the BLM. The two privately owned aircraft were under contract to the agency.
SEATs are small airplanes used to support wildland firefighters on the ground. They can deliver up to 800 gallons of fire retardant and operate in areas where larger airtankers cannot.
The names of the pilots have not been released.
Our sincere condolences go out to the pilots’ family, friends, and coworkers.
Bishop Fire, from Ella Mountain Lookout July 29, 2020. InciWeb photo. Bishop Fire map. Data from 7:53 p.m. MDT July 29, 2020. BLM.Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Tom. Typos or errors, report them HERE.
Two C-130 MAFFS air tankers relieved by another pair
MAFFS C-130 training in Boise April 21, 2017. Photo by Bill GabbertAfter a week on the job the two California National Guard C-130 MAFFS air tankers that were activated on July 22 are being relieved as scheduled and will return to the 146th Airlift Wing at Channel Islands in southern California.
A Herc from Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing “High Rollers” deployed July 29 to Sacramento McClellan Airport. It will be joined by one from the Air Force Reserve’s 302 Airlift Wing out of Peterson Air Force Base at Colorado Springs.
The military C-130s use the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) which can deliver up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant. The system slides into the back of the aircraft and retardant is sprayed under pressure through a nozzle in a modified troop door on the left side. MAFFS aircraft can be activated to supplement the civilian airtanker program to slow the spread of wildland fires.
A C-130 from Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing “High Rollers” during training in Boise April 20, 2020. Photo by Bill Gabbert.Photos from the Cedar Fire, 15 miles south of Elko, Nevada
Originally published at 3 p.m. MDT July 22, 2020
The Cedar Fire 15 miles south of Elko, Nevada has burned 6,000 acres and Tuesday night was being fought by 8 hand crews, 10 fire engines, 2 helicopters, and various air tankers for a total of 258 personnel. Satellites have not detected any large heat sources on the fire for about 24 hours.
On this fire Sunday July 19 a CL-415EAF scooping air tanker was used for the first time on a fire.
These photos were taken July 19-20, 2020 by Mike McMillan/BLM Elko District.
A CL-415EAF was used for the first time on a fire near Elko, Nevada
Air Tanker 281 completed over 60 water drops in support of firefighters at the Cedar Fire on its first ever mission. Photo July 21, 2020 by K Mita, Bridger Aerospace.A CL-415EAF was used for the first time on a fire Sunday, July 19.
The first CL-415EAF was delivered to Bridger Arospace’s facility in Bozeman, Montana in April, 2020 as part of a contract that with all options exercised is valued at $204 million covering the purchase of six of the amphibious scooping air tankers.
The first use of one on a wildfire was Tanker 281 on the Cedar Fire 15 miles south of Elko, Nevada Sunday where it completed over 60 water drops in support of firefighters. The fire has burned 6,000 acres and is being fought by 8 hand crews, 10 fire engines, 2 helicopters, and various air tankers for a total of 258 personnel.
The CL-415EAF modification program consists of converting CL-215 airframes to turbines using Viking-supplied conversion kits and replacing all obsolete components. It features a new Collins Pro Line Fusion® integrated digital avionics suite, Pratt & Whitney PW123AF turbine engines, and increased water tank capacity with a higher delivery two-door water drop system. The work is done in Canada by Longview Aviation Services in collaboration with Cascade Aerospace.
Three large wildfires in southwest Utah
Three large wildfires are burning in southwest Utah.
At least one home has burned in the 2,618-acre Veyo West Fire which is very close to Veyo, Utah and 18 miles northwest of St George, Utah.
The Turkey Farm Road Fire was very active Tuesday and was mapped at 11,993 acres Tuesday night. A Type 2 Incident Management Team has been mobilized. The fire is 3 miles north of St George.
Law enforcement officials are asking for help in identifying the individuals who started the fire with fireworks.
The 4,000-acre Big Summit Fire started July 13 about 17 miles northeast of Panaca, Nevada and burned into Utah. It is 10 miles north of Modena, Utah and 61 miles northwest of St George, Utah. No structures have burned in either state. Evacuations were in effect July 14.
Numbers Fire grows to over 18,000 acres south of Carson City, Nevada
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Saturday evening on the Long Valley Fire north of Reno
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