Wild Fire 2024

[Riwaka]

German wild fire unit.

REBO is introducing the FLM 2000 for the first time. With this front-mounted extinguishing unit, equipped with a water cannon, it is possible to use the REBO Rack as a protected and even remote-controlled fire engine. The REBO Rack FLM can be equipped with different launcher sizes and up to two launchers. The system is controlled via ISOBUS. This system was created in cooperation with the company AWG Fittings and the company Agribumper. The REBO Rack Steel Buddy travels on tracks from Zuidberg.

https://youtu.be/mkj7N2HuP_I?si=OvgYJ9_hW_p6Xo2l

[Firewoodjoe]

That's quite the rig. Are those explosives to to put out the fire also? 

[Riwaka]

Not sure.

There is leftover ww2 & training UXO (unexploded ordnance) in parts of Germany. Water cannons appear to be used to keep fire staff and machinery away from areas where hot uxo may be present and potentially cooking off. I would not want to have a Pulaski to cut a fireline through those areas.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/4/fire-triggered-by-explosions-spreads-in-berlin-city-forest

[Riwaka]

40 000 acres of farmland and forest burnt so far in a wild-fire west of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia with hot strong winds from the desert regions expected in a few days time.

Belly tank helicopters on the job.

https://youtu.be/ytLRLn_Q81M?si=6hK8oTmcRpeHMXNd

[Riwaka]

A few hours left of bad fire conditions in Victoria. They did have 100F (40C) and winds of 60mph (100km/h) at the end of the day. Obviously a hard task to keep the 50 000 acres burnt so far of the Bayindeen Fire contained. Reports of flare ups outside the containment lines and new fires starting elsewhere. 

The catastrophic conditions occurred over a wider area than anticipated (as reported by automatic weather stations)

There is video of Skycrane helicopters with both bucket and belly tanks operating. 

[Riwaka]

Everything is bigger in Texas, it appears including the wildfires.

[Riwaka]

Australia's Victorian Country Fire Authority conducts water drop tests from the saddle helicopters. Their first test drops in 10 years.

https://youtu.be/l2IJ9iU9VVs?si=E4TR98XeYXgU89HL

[dominicelliott]

Great, I will consider installing them in the near future

[BAN]

Anyone have info on wildfires in Virginia? Have a falling mod call to go over. 

[Riwaka]

Deciduous leaves burning in spring. Also burning structures. Claim of fires started by out of control burns and tree branches etc falling on powerlines then into leaf litter etc.
Locations
https://www.fireweatheravalanche.org/fire/state/virginia

Thursday vid update
https://youtu.be/jtqyDWUBPKw?si=fsid_j92Q5bdMnts

[nativewolf]

Last nights rains will have put the stopper on the fires in the Shenandoah.  I was just outside Quantico, about 100 miles from the fires, and it was very smokey.  

[BAN]

Last nights rains will have put the stopper on the fires in the Shenandoah.  I was just outside Quantico, about 100 miles from the fires, and it was very smokey. 

That's good to hear. The guys are on the way over.  I'm sure there's enough fire weakened trees to keep them busy for a bit.

[Riwaka]

LA County Fire Department Caterpillar D8R fire dozer.

https://youtu.be/Y7vBqacEgw4?si=SSOl34305VFQccsv

[ehp]

Well as of right now I donot think you could start a fire in the bush with 5 gallons of gas , the forest floor is moving cause its flooded , been raining almost everyday for over a month

[Riwaka]

Wildfire California, Tracy - 2024

California Fire , Tracy, East Of San Francisco, 14K acres, high fuel loads of grass.
https://youtu.be/PG02YpZ8OIw?si=W48FSkI0JGxiuEqP

Whitehorse, Yukon fire break, being cut through the Spruce and Pine. Planting Alder, Willow and Poplar as alternative tree species.
https://youtu.be/ad1hlTOr-8s?si=_-HvHFPa8I1feEAj

[rusticretreater]

That's quite the rig. Are those explosives to to put out the fire also? 

Oxygen depriving pyros using halon and similar gases that displace oxygen.  Kinda like using nitro to put out an oil well fire.  Boom and the flames are out.  Then you douse everything with water.

Run a tanker truck or two in there behind it and keep that sucker spraying.

[quilbilly]

Got a fire near where I used to live in Washington. The 2620 fire. It was started near a fellas logging operations. Really steep terrain. Went from acres to 300 in two days. Hopefully they get it under control soon. Pretty close to a town but not many residences in the area the fire started.

[Riwaka]

Trying to turn the BlackHawk helicopter into a wild-fire fighting large drone.
Rain and Sikorsky.

100 foot tall town water mister (Canada) (could be used for aboretums etc)

https://youtu.be/4BK2jmHxTlg?si=xdzgfVPVBXEuwS12



https://youtu.be/vR4FTu-TKrI?si=DRu0MuLmbPzlD97Q

[Riwaka]

Victoria Australia December 2024. nearly 90 000 acres (36 000 hectares)

Some of the same area burnt 10 months ago. 

Grampians/ Pomonal fire. Rocky difficult terrain, that has multi-day adventure hikers etc

The Grampians bushfire triples in size, locals prepare to spend Christmas week on high alert

https://youtu.be/oZ_vI7HFgiM?si=JKOd-bfV6ikdKWXH

[Peter Drouin]

Wow, I hope you get a handle on it soon.

[Riwaka]

Total Fire Ban declared in Victoria (24th December, 2024)
https://youtu.be/ntL6EkpOGbQ?si=tBm8hz2NEVveJuiN

Drawing maps before the next bad fire day of where the fire might go. 
Looks like a difficult task to save the Hall's Gap village. The houses are amongst trees and the escape routes are risky if the fire conditions are bad.

[Riwaka]

Latest report has the Grampians Fire at 178K acres/ 72K hectares. At least a 1/3 of the Park land has burned.
The fire jumped containment lines in high winds. Reinforcements brought in after 10 days.

Helitack 367 - a Florida Blackhawk on the job.

The local person was well aware of the danger that the fire could approach from potentially any point of the compass during to the 56mph winds changing direction.

Probably be a review/ report on this fire at a later time. The CFA appears to be keeping the media miles back compared to the past due to the current strict H & S laws.
A lot of the native loggers were shutdown in recent years, so a review may/ may not show this as a factor.
(Ban on native logging in Victoria State Forests started January 1st, 2024)Native loggers were some of the most proficient operators for putting in firelines.  

https://youtu.be/hdnX9TYXRcE?si=GYXlVJP0lEugflZm
  

[TreefarmerNN]

Wow- prayers for the communities, the people and the firefighters.  Fighting fire in wind is tough work and there appears to be plenty of fuel.

[Peter Drouin]

Loggers can't cut here or there. But can you help put out the fire and cut the fire lines?
What a joke.