Ah. Thank you.
The Data.World GoWF Practical RDF data integration project is concluded.
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Warlords and Deadbeats: CAL FIRE Edition
"For the second year in a row, CAL FIRE is boosting its seasonal fleet across California — with more than $72 million provided by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration. The funding secures an additional 24 firefighting aircraft (19 helicopters and 5 planes) for a contracted period of 90-120 days. The Fullerton Observer reported that these aircraft are located in communities across the state and will be pre-positioned as needed.
“The deployment of more aircraft dedicated to the people of California marks a historic milestone, with the highest number of firefighting aircraft ever available for initial attack in the state for the second consecutive year,’ said Director and Fire Chief Joe Tyler. He said rainfall this year has resulted in increased fuels; last week alone, CAL FIRE responded to over 300 wildfires.”
Rather than reprint Kelly Andersson’s sharp article in its entirety, I’ll just say its pretty good, although the actual count of available aircraft for the State of California goes up fairly significantly if you add in the Bell 412s, AW139s, Hueys, Firehawks, and Chinooks of the Contract Counties and the QRF fleet. In addition, NSW RFS has sent over a VLAT full of firefighters.
I’m still sort of curious as to how soon we will see CAL FIRE C-130Hs on fires.
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Sacramento has figured out how to use the Emergency Fund
( 0900) preemptively instead of reactionary to support the “10 acres or less” mission. Credit goes to Chief/Director Tyler and his Executive team for navigating the MINE FIELD that is state law, state administrative law(when it comes to procurement & contracting).
Not to be unrecognized is Mother Nature herself. She seems to have figured out “her meds” and returned to what was “normal” during the 1990’s and early 2000’s.
What isn’t talked about is the “competition” for scarce resources (look at how many management teams & IHC) have been rotated to our brothers & sisters in Canada. And the fact California/CalFire was able to get the last remaining LAT available in the world. A Coulson built, maintained, and flown 737(B210) that is on long term lease / sale to the governmentof New South Wales (Back story, the list of contract aircraft on EU for Calfire is not the same in 2023 as it was in 2022). There are over 50 T1 rotorwing aircraft available in California when you add up State, Federal, & LG owned or EU / CWN ships. It is not uncommon to get 1 on IA dispatch and have 2 more respond for a total of 3 T1 Helicopters on an IA fire. That heavy & hard hit of water from the sky has a positive effect.
Finally, the “CalFire C130’s” are still owned by the DoD. Calfire hasn’t “Offically” taken delivery of them because the work mandated in the 2013 and 2019 “Defense Authorization Act” (Required Maintenance to include TANKS) has not been completed. The DoD has the RESPONSIBILITY to finish the job Congress gave them to do. They have contracted with the manufacturer and approved depot level contractor LOCKHEED MARTIN. That has “contracted” with Coulson for their PATENTED TANKING SYSTEM. Coulson owns the patents and has more than enough work with its own aircraft (fixed & rotary wing) that they don’t need the LOCKHEED work at 30% discounted rate. So there is not money left from the 2013 & 2019 budgets, the tank manufacturer and installer, doesn’t need the money, and the contractor won’t work for free.
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The Ballad Of Ed Pulaski (No One Here Gets Out Alive)
by Kurt Lindgren (also known as Ku Dog)
American Experience: The Big Burn, Part 1
USDA Forest Service: Edward Pulaski
Wikipedia: Ed Pulaski
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This shouldn’t need saying, but just in case it does. Those are American hand crews in there. You’re not just going to sit there and gloat. You are going to help them. And we are going to settle the bill.
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Fire aviation resources should be advised that DoD are conducting routine readiness and training exercises in the Pacific near and on shore area, including the normal RAIDER flights and some additional activity in and around Portland as part of an exercise involving the Navy and CalGuard ANG out of Fresno.
This is an E2 Hawkeye that just passed by Paso Robles Air Attack Base at around 12,000 ft.
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Yesterday millerton finally began to spill. 2 obermeyer crest gates installed in 1998 and an original floating drum gate, the 2 obermeyer gates replaced floating drum gates that would have become inoperable due to concrete expansion caused by alkali.
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Some coastal areas have been undergoing daily temperature swings as the marine layer resettles. This has caused some unexpected dense fog at certain times of the day and sketchy visibility. Wide temperature and humidity swings can cause rapid contraction and expansion of parts and cables, so it might not be a bad idea to make sure stuff isn’t slowly wiggling loose.
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First year Corpies should be advised that, especially in extended attack, conditions on the ground and in the air can be substantially different than as they are described from afar.
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…meanwhile, the Forest Service waits for the Republican Party to run out of men to fight the law with, and the Democratic Party to replace its infirm Senators.
This NBC News article claims they were told that the Forest Service is at 99% personnel capacity, atm. Does that seem accurate?
This year, the Forest Service has 11,150 wildland firefighters onboard nationwide, or 99% of its goal of 11,300, the agency said.
If it is reasonably accurate, then we’re looking at a serious problem on the horizon, but no cause for panic and fear-mongering.
From 30% to 50% of the roughly 11,000 firefighters who combat wildfires across millions of acres of land managed by the U.S. Forest Service could resign in coming seasons without a longterm solution to persistently low wages and poor benefits, according to the National Federation of Federal Employees.
“Coming seasons” is vague. The new bill is moving toward the floor, and I’ve read reports it has enough support. Even if 30% to 50% is accurate, that’s not all tomorrow, or even this season. Granted that the 11,300 number is low-ball to begin with, spinning the numbers to increase dramatic effect isn’t going to help. At least, in the western states, people aren’t quite so dumb and numb to wildfire issues as all that. Over the last 10 years, nearly every state has seen a catastrophic fire or two.
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This year, the Forest Service has 11,150 wildland firefighters onboard nationwide, or 99% of its goal of 11,300, the agency said.
IS this misleading for all of us or am I not understanding? IS the goal of 11,300 reflect the current status of the unstaffed engine, crews etc? WTH. C’mon Randy, create a Wildfire intel profile and talk to us.
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That made me laugh. 
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Zero chance Forest Service is 99% staffed using the approved national fire organization by unit. Don’t even know why they would want to say that. Maybe the well paid regional and national fire staff positions are 99% filled.
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There are forests in R5 who have less than 40% of their positions filled. and that number gets less and less with each round of hiring, ie we are losing them faster than we are replacing them. If the FS retention allowance goes away, i’m scared to see where we sit after the next Cal Fire hiring event.
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Calfire is now hiring FF1 year round. No more “Open & Closing” dates for FF1. The Perm FF2 & FAE positions get tested every 2yr year for eligibility. But the Fire Captain test has been given 3 times already in 2023. It is rumored there are over 200 Open and unfilled permanent FC positions statewide or an avg of 10 per unit. It’s the experienced AFEO, Squad Boss, FC, and IHC Supt that are leaving in unprecedented numbers. That level of experience and expertise cannot be replaced anytime soon. What the FS and other federal agencies are losing will take decades, if not ever to replace.
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I take it back. After hours and hours of catch-up, its probably better to back off from this scene than go through stress for nothing.
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Hey Everybody…It’s been a slow season so far and yes, we are all ready for some action, however, let’s please be mindful of our posts to keep them relevant and on point with the topic at hand. Scope creep on threads degrades the value and intend of the original poster and topic.
Carry on
- Keith
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Corpsmembers should be advised that tropical and subtropical heat and humidity conditions can combine to overheat your bod, especially when you’re trying to move quickly up an incline. They will want to shed protective gear and loosen straps beyond the point they are effective. Discipline and pacing are necessary to reduce heat exhaustion, even when responding to an imminent threat. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.
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