West Coast Fire Thread
Re: West Coast Fire Thread
If someone is looking for a business opportunity, they should consider starting a wildfire company. Probably could start with just a semi and bulldozer. Or just a water tanker. Or you could get a jet, and get paid $10,000 for every dump of fire retardant.
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Re: West Coast Fire Thread
Are you thinking private individuals or businesses would hire this person?
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A wee little man can’t say, I’m sorry. A big man owns his mistakes and apologizes.
A wee little man trusts himself and his own discernment. A big man is humble enough to know that he needs the counsel and input of others.
A wee little man trusts himself and his own discernment. A big man is humble enough to know that he needs the counsel and input of others.
Re: West Coast Fire Thread
I'm not too knowledgeable how this works exactly. But not private individuals. Someone - I think probably some government agencies, less likely private government contractors working on the fires for the government - pays you a hefty seasonal retainer just to be on call during the fire season. The caveat, is that since you are on call, you have to prioritize that call when it comes, and immediately take your equipment to wherever you are dispatched to. And then you get paid more money for the actual use of the equipment. You would be operating your equipment. Rates are set depending on the equipment you are signing up. I know that a few locals do this with their equipment. Sounds pretty simple, attainable, straight forward sort of deal.
And then if you wish to grow your business, you would become more actively involved, and win contracts, have more equipment, have more employees, and go all over the Western States. Probably could get contracts in Australia and Canada and South America.
If you just wish to work for the summer and get paid a wage, these contractors would hire you.
https://wildlandfirejobs.com/list-of-wi ... ntractors/
https://www.inboundfireco.com/
https://www.pacificoasisinc.com/
https://millertimber.com/services/wildl ... efighting/
https://www.eatanker.com/ - These guys have a bunch of these jets based right here at the city municipal airport. So we see them the most, but there are other fire bombing companies that we see around as well.
These guys are all working paid by the government to fight these wildfires.
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Re: West Coast Fire Thread
Using record amounts of fire retardant using the large aircrafts.
REDMOND, Ore. -- The Redmond Air Tanker Base is setting new records with huge fires burning close by.
In an average year, the base pumps about 1 million gallons of fire retardant. Manager Eric Graff said Tuesday that the base has pumped that same amount in just the past 10 days.
Firefighting aircraft from across the country have been flying into and out of the Redmond Airport -- about 10 per day.
"They come into the loading pit. We can load them in about 12 minutes. If they need fuel, probably an extra five minutes after that. Within 20 minutes, they can be in the pit, loaded and back out on the runway," Graff said.
The biggest day for the air base was Saturday when nearly 250,000 gallons of fire retardant was loaded into firefighting aircraft.
https://www.centraloregondaily.com/news ... 681e2.html
Four massive U.S. military C-130H Hercules aircraft are currently deployed for wildfire duty nationwide. Two of them are operating from Klamath Falls to help battle Oregon’s wildfires.
Cockpit video from one of the C-130s shows pilots making retardant drops on the Cow Camp complex fire in eastern Oregon on July 21, 2026, the day the fire was discovered. A much smaller U.S. Forest Service plane flies ahead, releasing smoke to show the pilots where to drop the retardant. The lead plane is difficult to see, though its shadow briefly appears on the ground.
The 302nd Airlift Wing out of Colorado shared this video from inside a C-130 Hercules as it battles wildfires in Oregon. "You're a U.S. Air Force Reserve C-130H aerial firefighting pilot and this is your view out the window as you provide fire support in Oregon! It's a long video, but you will fly through the smoke, past tall mountains, watch for the lead planetelling you where to drop the retardant and look for the shadow on the ground as we make a drop! Note the terrain is wild and rugged and we're flying low so we get the optimal use of the retardant."
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DSuyU ... tid=wwXIfr
telling you where to drop the retardant and look for the shadow on the ground as we make a drop! Note the terrain is wild and rugged and we're flying low so we get the optimal use of the retardant."
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Re: West Coast Fire Thread
10 per day doesn't sound very record breaking to me. Is that really a big deal?R7ehr wrote: ↑Wed Jul 29, 2026 12:11 am Using record amounts of fire retardant using the large aircrafts.REDMOND, Ore. -- The Redmond Air Tanker Base is setting new records with huge fires burning close by.
Firefighting aircraft from across the country have been flying into and out of the Redmond Airport -- about 10 per day.
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A wee little man can’t say, I’m sorry. A big man owns his mistakes and apologizes.
A wee little man trusts himself and his own discernment. A big man is humble enough to know that he needs the counsel and input of others.
A wee little man trusts himself and his own discernment. A big man is humble enough to know that he needs the counsel and input of others.
Re: West Coast Fire Thread
Doesn’t strike me as a lot either. Four military Hercules just joined the fight, joining the private companies. Maybe it’s poorly written, maybe ten from other areas have recently been added. Beats me, seems low.Ernie wrote: ↑Wed Jul 29, 2026 7:49 am10 per day doesn't sound very record breaking to me. Is that really a big deal?R7ehr wrote: ↑Wed Jul 29, 2026 12:11 am Using record amounts of fire retardant using the large aircrafts.REDMOND, Ore. -- The Redmond Air Tanker Base is setting new records with huge fires burning close by.
Firefighting aircraft from across the country have been flying into and out of the Redmond Airport -- about 10 per day.
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Re: West Coast Fire Thread
Fire in Spokane this evening. It even jumped a river. Multiple structures gone already.
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/ ... ghts-area/
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/ ... ghts-area/
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A wee little man can’t say, I’m sorry. A big man owns his mistakes and apologizes.
A wee little man trusts himself and his own discernment. A big man is humble enough to know that he needs the counsel and input of others.
A wee little man trusts himself and his own discernment. A big man is humble enough to know that he needs the counsel and input of others.
Re: West Coast Fire Thread
A Season with the Hotshots. Great documentary. Toughest work, much sacrifice, for low pay.
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A wee little man can’t say, I’m sorry. A big man owns his mistakes and apologizes.
A wee little man trusts himself and his own discernment. A big man is humble enough to know that he needs the counsel and input of others.
A wee little man trusts himself and his own discernment. A big man is humble enough to know that he needs the counsel and input of others.
Re: West Coast Fire Thread
This weekend was expected to be very dangerous in terms of weather, and we didn’t catch a break.
No burning or shooting allowed.
Seldom used “Particularly Dangerous” designation.
This is what the weather report was:
PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION (PDS) RED FLAG IN EFFECT 2PM UNTIL 8PM TODAY FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS…
A strong cold front will pass through the region today. Very warm, dry, and windy conditions will result, leading to extreme fire weather concerns and the potential for rapid fire spread for any new or ongoing fires.
* TIMING...Until 11 PM PDT this evening.
* WINDS...West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 15 percent.
* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.
Action Recommended
-Make preparations per the Description.
Urgency
-Take action within next hour.
Issued By
-National Weather Service
This afternoon, a family member called checking if I had my fire fighting equipment available. It is not, and he said there was a new fire on Round Butte just near his house. I looked, and I could see it from my house. So we loaded up what we could and headed over there. Cut some tall dead grass, and put out some sprinkers. Filled ATV water tanks and water trailers sprayers. It was burning to the NE with a very strong steady west wind. There was nothing but dry brush between us, so it depended on the wind. Providentially, the wind held steady, and blew the fire across the north of us and down into a canyon. It is still burning. It may burn up the other side and into some wheat fields. Within an hour, there were 4 helicopters and 5 small airplanes working the fire. Helicopters were taking water from the farm ponds.
Very fast moving fire.
The Round Butte Fire passed between my relatives and another church members home, both homes in the dryland, unprotected by irrigation green hay fields. As I sit on my porch now I can see the fire is still burning in the distance, about 6 miles away. It looks like they are getting it contained in the canyon, and the wind has died down. I see two very large planes are now around the fire, helicopters are gone.
No burning or shooting allowed.
Seldom used “Particularly Dangerous” designation.
This is what the weather report was:
PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION (PDS) RED FLAG IN EFFECT 2PM UNTIL 8PM TODAY FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS…
A strong cold front will pass through the region today. Very warm, dry, and windy conditions will result, leading to extreme fire weather concerns and the potential for rapid fire spread for any new or ongoing fires.
* TIMING...Until 11 PM PDT this evening.
* WINDS...West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 15 percent.
* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.
Action Recommended
-Make preparations per the Description.
Urgency
-Take action within next hour.
Issued By
-National Weather Service
This afternoon, a family member called checking if I had my fire fighting equipment available. It is not, and he said there was a new fire on Round Butte just near his house. I looked, and I could see it from my house. So we loaded up what we could and headed over there. Cut some tall dead grass, and put out some sprinkers. Filled ATV water tanks and water trailers sprayers. It was burning to the NE with a very strong steady west wind. There was nothing but dry brush between us, so it depended on the wind. Providentially, the wind held steady, and blew the fire across the north of us and down into a canyon. It is still burning. It may burn up the other side and into some wheat fields. Within an hour, there were 4 helicopters and 5 small airplanes working the fire. Helicopters were taking water from the farm ponds.
Very fast moving fire.
The Round Butte Fire passed between my relatives and another church members home, both homes in the dryland, unprotected by irrigation green hay fields. As I sit on my porch now I can see the fire is still burning in the distance, about 6 miles away. It looks like they are getting it contained in the canyon, and the wind has died down. I see two very large planes are now around the fire, helicopters are gone.
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Re: West Coast Fire Thread
20 helicopters fly out of Madras as crews battle 3 Central Oregon wildfires
Heavy air tankers are flying out of the Redmond Airport. Single Engine Air tankers (SEATS) are flying from Prineville. Helicopters are operating from the Madras Airport.
Keeping all these different types of aircraft operating safely in crowded air space over fires is an elaborate air traffic control dance.
The Madras Airport is operating as a joint heli base from which 20 helicopters and two air attack aircraft are leading the aerial fight against the Bench Fire near Warm Springs, the Akawa Butte Fire near Sisters and the Rowe Creek West complex fire near Prineville.
"We’ve got two folks that are basically air traffic control for the heli base here," said Scott Swearingen, Air Ops Director for Oregon Department of Forestry CIMT Team 3. They are in charge of "the landings, and the takeoffs. Once the aircraft leave here, they tie in with our air attack, either fixed wing aircraft or helicopter, and from there they direct traffic over the fire."
On clear day when there is good visibility, all the aircraft will be engaged, either on the ground getting fueled up, in transit to and from the airport or operating over the fire. But when the smoke rolls in and visibility is limited, flight activity may be reduced or completely stopped for safety reasons.
"Sometimes the aircraft are grounded due to visibility. Sometimes wind. And also coordinating with other agencies of who’s going to fight what with what resources. It’s really a big planing effort," said Lorraine Martinelli, Madras Airport Manager. "Right now you do see quite a few on the ground but a few have been up in the air already. Later this afternoon my guess is we’ll see most of them up in the air and flying and dispersing. It’s just a big coordinated effort."
https://www.centraloregondaily.com/news ... 644ef.html
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