Video of precision drop by an S2 air tanker

S-2 precision drop
S2T precision drop by T-72, Border #19 fire, June 24, 2022.

Check out the video below of a precision retardant drop by Tanker 72, an S2T, a CAL FIRE air tanker based in Southern California. It occurred in very difficult terrain on the Border #19 wildfire near the US/Mexico border June 24, 2022. The video was shot by the FIRIS intelligence-gathering aircraft.

Aircraft on the Dixie Fire in Butte County, California

5:35 a.m. PDT July 14, 2021

Aircraft Dixie Fire
Aircraft on the one-acre Dixie Fire in Butte County, California July 13, 2021. Photo by CAL FIRE.

These photos were taken by CAL FIRE on the one-acre Dixie Fire in Butte County, California July 13, 2021. This fire is not to be confused with the Dixie Fire in Idaho that has burned over 19,000 acres. (UPDATE at 7:47 a.m. PDT July 14, 2021: on Tuesday the fire’s spread had been stopped for a while at one acre. That evening it took off and grew to about 60 acres and was very active again later in the day.)

Aircraft Dixie Fire
An S2T drops on the one-acre Dixie Fire in Butte County, California July 13, 2021. Photo by CAL FIRE.
Aircraft Dixie Fire
Firehawk refills with water on the one-acre Dixie Fire in Butte County, California July 13, 2021. Photo by CAL FIRE.

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.

Photos of firefighting aircraft on the Elizabeth Fire in southern California

Elizabeth Fire helicopter
This is a new-to-them HH-60L Blackhawk operated by the Ventura County Fire Department.

Jay Widdows sent us these photos he shot June 10 on the Elizabeth Fire north of the city of Ventura in southern California. The fire burned 289 acres. Thanks Jay!

Elizabeth Fire helicopter
Bell 205A-1, Coastal Helicopters.
Elizabeth Fire dozer
This photo by the Ventura County FD is included here to provide a glimpse of the terrain and vegetation.
Elizabeth Fire helicopter
Los Angeles County Firehawk.
Coulson Air Tanker 137
T-137, a B-737.
CAL FIRE's Air Tanker 78
CAL FIRE’s Air Tanker 78, an S2-T
Elizabeth Fire dozer
A Ventura County Fire Department EH-1H.

One fatality in air tanker crash in France

Sécurité Civile S-2 Air tankers
Sécurité Civile S-2 air tankers. Screenshot from the video below.

Friday afternoon at about 5:20 local time, August 2, an air tanker pilot, the only one on board, was killed in the crash of an S-2 in France near Généracx while working on a wildfire.

The accident was confirmed by the Prime Minister. The name of the pilot has not been released.

Sécurité Civile turbine-powered S-2s can be seen in the video below.

For years Sécurité Civile had been pondering what to do about replacing their nine S-2s that are approaching their structural life limit of 25,000 hours, according to the agency. Their plans announced in 2016 were to retire the S-2s between 2018 and 2022 which would require a two-year extension of the type certificate. The goal was to acquire aircraft that could carry more water or retardant, would reduce operating costs, and would be multi-role. On June 18, 2019 Conair delivered the first of six Dash 8-Q400MR air tankers to the Sécurité Civile base at Nimes-Garons in France. The Q400MRs will slowly replace the aging S-2 air tankers. Initially the newly arrived aircraft will be handled by the Direction Générale de l’Armement for acceptance procedures prior to beginning active duty. Securite Civile has operated two Q-400 air tankers since 2005.

In addition to the nine S-2s and two Q-400s, France also has twelve CL-415s and 40 helicopters. Like CAL FIRE, Sécurité Civile replaced the radial engines on the S-2s with turbines.

Our sincere condolences go out to the family, friends, and co-workers of the pilot.