Photos of large air tankers working the Alisal Fire in SoCal

Tanker 101 dropping Alisal Fire
Tanker 101, an MD-87, dropping on the northwest side of the Alisal Fire, Oct. 13, 2021. Photo by SBCFD

Since the Alisal Fire started west of Santa Barbara, California on October 11 there have not been many opportunities for firefighting aircraft to work the fire due to the very strong winds. Helicopters have been able to sneak in a few times, but until yesterday and today, October 12 and 13, they have rarely been seen at the fire.

Thanks to a decrease in wind speed, today on FlightRadar24 I saw six large air tankers and two very large air tankers (DC-10s) either over the fire, flying to or from, or taxiing at the Santa Maria airport which is 31 miles northwest of the fire.

Tanker 12 dropping Alisal Fire
Tanker 12, a BAe-146, dropping on the northwest side of the Alisal Fire, Oct. 13, 2021. Photo by SBCFD

These photos are courtesy of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

Tanker 137 dropping Alisal Fire
Tanker 137, a 737, dropping on the northwest side of the Alisal Fire, Oct. 13, 2021. Photo by SBCFD

Wednesday morning the Santa Barbara County Fire Department said the Alisal Fire has burned 14,500 acres, an increase of 1,100 acres over the figure released Tuesday evening. The growth over the last 24 hours has been on all sides, with the exception, of course, where the fire was stopped by the Pacific Ocean on the south. Wildfire Today has more information about the fire.

Tanker 910 dropping Alisal Fire
Tanker 910, a DC-10, dropping on the northwest side of the Alisal Fire, Oct. 13, 2021. Photo by SBCFD
Alisal Fire map
Alisal Fire map 9:45 p.m. Oct. 12, 2021. The red line was the perimeter at 9:45 p.m. PDT Oct. 12, 2021. The white line was the perimeter at 4:12 a.m. Oct. 12. The red dots represent heat detected by satellites at 2:56 a.m. PDT Oct. 13.

DC-7 and 737 air tankers at Medford, Oregon

air Tanker 60 at Medford, OR
Tanker 60, a DC-7, at Medford, OR July 19, 2020. Photo by Tim Crippin.

Tim Crippin shot these photos of air tankers at Medford, Oregon July 19 and 20, 2020. The DC-7C (N838D) is operated by Erickson Aero Tanker and the B-737 (N137CG) by Coulson Aviation.

Here is what Tim told us about the photos:

Tanker 60 arrived in Medford on July 19th to begin the final year of fire fighting for the DC-7’s as they will be retired after this year. Caught their arrival in the picture with their landing gear. Been in Medford two days and has already been dispatched to two fires.

Yesterday Tanker 60 departed Medford for the Days Creek Fire burning about 14 miles Northeast of Canyonville which is two of the pictures. It worked along with three helicopters, two SEATS out of Redmond, and Tanker 161 out of Redmond.

Tanker 137 made their first ever visit to Medford to reload for the Milepost 21 Fire in Northern California. They made two load and returns out of Medford before going to Chico to reload for a fire near there before returning to Santa Maria for the night.

Thanks Tim!

air Tanker 60 at Medford, OR
Tanker 60, a DC-7, at Medford, OR July 20, 2020. Photo by Tim Crippin.
air Tanker 137 at Medford, OR
Tanker 137, a B-737, at Medford, OR July 20, 2020. Photo by Tim Crippin.
air Tanker 137 at Medford, OR
Tanker 137, a B-737, at Medford, OR July 20, 2020. Photo by Tim Crippin.

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.

Excellent photo of 737 air tanker at work

coulson 737 air tanker dropping

This is Air Tanker 137, a B-737 operated by Coulson Aviation. It’s one of two 737s they have converted to air tankers. They sold the other one to New South Wales in Australia a few months ago.

This aircraft, T-137, made the first ever drop on a fire by a 737 November 22, 2018 during the recent 2018-2019 Australian summer while it was on contract down there before the other 737 was delivered to NSW. It made its first drop in the United States around the first of August this year.

Britt Coulson said the company substituted T-137 for their T-132, an L-382G that was on a Call When Needed Contract, taking the place of it on the list.

Obviously Coulson Instagrammed the photo, but if someone knows the photographer’s name, we will add it here.

Videos of firefighting aircraft in action

air tanker 137 737 wildfire
This is not a video, but it is a screengrab from the video below of Air Tanker 137, a 737, dropping on the Bruxner Highway Fire (Tenterfield LGA) in New South Wales, Australia. Usually it is not obvious when an air tanker drops simultaneously from more than one tank, but on the 737 the tanks are not adjacent to each other, making it possible to see the separation when the drop begins.

The video below shows Air Tanker 137, a Boeing 737, dropping on the Bruxner Highway Fire (Tenterfield LGA) in New South Wales, Australia.

A Blackhawk and an Air-Crane can be seen in the video below working on a wildfire in New South Wales, Australia.

Next, a Blackhawk in New South Wales.

Below, two helicopters work a fire north of Canadian, Texas.

Below, CAL FIRE helicopter 301 makes a swift water rescue.