California Fires 2007

[Bravo73]

Are there any Rotorheads working on the fires which are currently ravaging California?


Fly safe if you are.

[Gordy]

Yep---Just arrived today at KSEE, supposedly assigned to the Harris fire but got comandeered to close out the day on the witch fire. Will try to get pictures tomorrow. I can tell you that it looks like a war zone. There are neighborhoods where one or two homes burned...then half a mile away there will be a neighborhood where one or two homes did not burn. It is very eerie too, flying over LOTS of homes and NO cars or people.

[Brilliant Stuff]

Well I for one will be routing for you all. I can not imagine how big that job is. the news reports unfortunately are not very insightful.

All the best of luck to you all.

[west lakes]

From JB

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=297375

[misterbonkers]

Californian Fires

some pictures here;

http://www.firehawkhelicopters.com/Pictures.htm

[Aser]

Amazing fixed-wing drop!
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e4b_1193018591

Take care.

[vaqueroaero]

Some pictures here:

http://signonsandiego.lamphost.net/wildfires

Goldy - KSEE used to be my home airport. I worked for Blackhawk Helicopters for a while.

Did you have to cease operations when El Presidente came to view the damage?

Fly safe.

[Gordy]

Nope we kept flying--in fact, I knew he was coming, and we all had our "secret descrete" transponder codes and carried on flying. I am on the "Harris Fire" with 17 other civilian helicopters and 6 military blackhawks. There was a report of a crash in the morning but I heard later it was just a "hard landing" by ne of your former helicopters. (I have not verified personally). Pics to follow.

[vaqueroaero]

Hi Gordy. It was the Long Ranger I used to fly. Everyone walked away which is the important thing.
If you get out on the Witch fire I'd be interested to know about damage on the east end of Palomar Mountain, near Lake Henshaw. A friend has a new house there. Also Mesa Grande, another friend has a 700 acre ranch.
Fly safe & I'd appreciate any news when you get time. Looking forward to the pics.

[Gordy]

OK here are some pictures. Unfortunately, I am not flying near Mesa Grande, I am right on the border by Tecate, Barret lake and Potrero areas on the Harris fire. The structures lost were all in mountainous areas as opposed to home close together.

Harris/Lyons Vally Helibase:



And the news reported we were grounded---right....This was during a slop over that started running towards the helibase---at one point we had upto 9 medium helicopters in a daisy chain....







Tanker drop



One lucky home-owner:



"Timothy"



Burnt home:



Someone had a sense of humor--telling the military to use pink paint for visibilty....



And finally---here is what San Diego Sheriff pilots ride on when the helicopters are fighting fires....

[RVDT]

N 205HQ Serial 30100.

Did about 300 hours in that thing about 18 years ago. It had 22,000 hours on it then! What about now?