2012 Fire Season

chain · July 01, 2012, 09:13:37 PM

There were a couple of fires in Iron and Madison counties, [Mo.] this past week-end.

Ron Scott · July 02, 2012, 03:32:21 PM

http://earthsky.org/earth/five-day-timelapse-video-wildfire-near-colorado-springs

Interesting to watch the day to night transitions.

woodtroll · July 04, 2012, 10:09:18 AM

been on a fire on district. It has reached 56000 acres mostly private and state owned.
There went 4 of my thinning projects, 2 active timber sales and much more.
But wait its still growing...

woodtroll · July 10, 2012, 12:08:03 AM

Final size 62,000 acres. No structures lost. No injuries! 60 head of live stock and 3 horses were lost, many homestead cabins and buildings, but all in all we were watched over.
What a beginning to fire season.

sawguy21 · July 10, 2012, 09:53:33 AM

Our fire season is just starting, we had a very cool, wet spring. If these temps stay it is going to get ugly. We are seeing a lot of smoke from the south, air quality advisory's have been issued in some areas.

Ron Scott · July 13, 2012, 07:42:06 PM

DC-10 arrives in San Bernardino National Forest

On July 9, the DC-10 Very Large Airtanker arrived at the San Bernardino National Forest Airtanker Base and will be available for initial attack fire suppression and large fire support. It's on a "call when needed" contract. Strategically positioning the airtanker in San Bernardino National Forest puts it in a position to reach locations throughout California, Nevada and Utah. The airtanker can carry about 11,800 gallons of retardant and has been used on numerous wildfires in California in recent years.

The Chief's Newsletter

beenthere · July 13, 2012, 09:42:11 PM

Ron
From the tone of the note, sounds like this is the first time this year it has been used.
I see by the fire map, the big ones are somewhat under control.

http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/index.php

Down to just two "red" incidents on todays' map. One in SE Oregon and one that looks to be in the Lassen Nat. For. in northern CA

Ron Scott · July 16, 2012, 12:37:10 PM

Yes, I believe that it is just being put into use. The focus has been mpstly on the use of the smaller private aircraft under contract.

Debate Over Use of Military Planes Grows After Fires, C-130 Crash

USA Today, Published by Trevor Hughes, July 3rd
Eight of the government's biggest firefighting airplanes sat on the tarmac for weeks as fires erupted across the Rockies last month because incident commanders first called in smaller, privately owned aircraft to bombard flames with water and retardant.The military's C-130 tankers were not called to duty until June 25, weeks after large fires began destroying homes and causing deaths across the West. The planes flew multiple missions in Colorado before one crashed fighting the White Draw fire in South Dakota on July 1, killing three members of its crew. The cause of the C-130 crash remains under investigation. The remaining planes were temporarily grounded but resumed flying today. Federal law prohibits fire managers from calling in the military planes until they first call in private aircraft leased to the government. The law has been the subject of some debate in the aftermath of the recent fires. Beth Lund, leader of the national-level Type 1 Incident Management Team that managed the 87,284-acre High Park Fire near Fort Collins, Colo., says that contrary to popular belief, the bigger planes aren't necessarily better.

The E-Forester

Ron Scott · July 19, 2012, 10:15:29 AM

Large Fire Settlement with logging Company

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/18/12804544-logging-company-to-pay-record-1225m-in-damages-over-2007-california-wildfire?lite

Ron Scott · July 30, 2012, 06:43:09 PM

http://www.newswithviews.com/Clausen/barry110.htm

beenthere · July 30, 2012, 07:57:03 PM

And the enviros have a very firm grip on the cajones of the Federal judges (if they have any) and as a result are very powerful with their protests - - and very, very expensive to the rest of us.
The enviros are a very non-caring people.

sandhills · July 31, 2012, 12:05:03 AM

Also very ignorant

Ron Scott · August 24, 2012, 01:29:47 PM

Firefighters Discovered Marijuana Grow Site during Waldo Canyon Fire

KKTV.com (August 21) - While fighting the Waldo Canyon Fire, a 22 acre marijuana grow site was found on US Forest Service land. It contained about 7,500 plants with an estimated value of $15 million.

Since 2009, the US Attorney's Office reports 16 marijuana growing operations have been raided on national forestland in Colorado. In addition to what was found during the Waldo Canyon Fire, officials have seized more than 1,400 plants, 103 pounds of marijuana, and $354,325 connected to marijuana grown on public land in Colorado this year.

The E-Forester

Ron Scott · August 24, 2012, 01:33:28 PM

Forest Service to Try Nighttime Water-Drops-Again

Press Enterprise (California, August 20) - Thirty-five years ago, a deadly mid-air collision involving a US Forest Service water-dropping helicopter illustrated the dangers of aerial nighttime firefighting, which the agency ended 29 years ago in 1983.

But last week, the Forest Service announced that beginning next year it will operate one contract helicopter that will be available for nighttime firefighting in southern California.

The E-Forester