Four SEATs (830, 840, 835, 868) + an Air Attack (06). The SEATs are currently all out elsewhere. Supposedly we’ll have a load of helicopters coming in, but that was also supposed to happen a week ago. There’s an unassigned S-61 on site.
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The likelihood of SEATS being used on any CF jurisdiction fire is approaching zero. When the AA requests air tankers, they give very specific minimum requirements which exclude SEATS.
There was a pretty heated battle in the years following the Glass Fire between CF, the Napa County Board of Supervisors and the Napa Valley Vintners Association, which as one can imagine a very well funded lobbying group. The Vintners Association was guaranteeing funding for two SEATS to be housed at the Napa Airport for quick response aircraft in the Napa County area. The plan was vehemently opposed by CF for many reasons, some legit and some arguably questionable.
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They settled on a copter, instead.
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They used the dickens out of one (or 2? can’t remember) here on the Jones fire in NEU. The SEAT(s?) happened to be RON at Grass Valley when the fire was making a push toward a populated area and the SEAT was in rotation with the S2s most of a day.
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They had a choice of them or nothing else.
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That happens a lot when S2s are tapped out and they could quickly fly SEATs in from Chester or Reno or wherever they happen to be but somebody is dead set against them.
I do think one crashed shortly after the Jones fire so who knows, may be justified.
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They were talking about FireBoss single engine scoopers for Napa, weren’t they?
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Yes, that was the original plan
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I recall the summer of SEATs in SoCal when the Forest Service lost all their Type 1 tankers.
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The new Type 1 helitankers are a much better option. Like having a LAT with 3-8 min. turn around times
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I agree, the CH47s seem to work really well
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The S61 & S64’s are in there too
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I was referring to flanking edges. In no way shape or form do I think its stopping head fire in the timber. And yes I really think it works when applied appropriately in those situations. I have seen it myself, and I know a few folks.
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Cal Fire C-130 goes into service today FINALLY!
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I remember when that usfs c130 was stationed at fresno for that brief moment they had a c130 program.
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