Fire

[Bill, KD0HG]

Another forest fire has started at 10:30 AM just west of here.
More idiots with camp fires, apparently.

I've been watching the DC-6 and DC-10 slurry bombers go by. Those things rumble along like real airplanes. Rumbling radial engines. They have issue a mandatory evac order via reverse 911 for places up to a mile from here, but I have decided that I'm not leaving. I've been on the tractor mowing down the grass and landscape around the barn and house and I've got the pumps and hoses ready to go. If I need to dig a fire line to the dirt, I'm going to do that. We'll see how it goes. Just came in for lunch.

[k3zrf]

Bill,

Hope you have a nomex lined outfit.

Good luck but please run if you have to

[WA3VJB]

Geez, Bill, be careful.

Let us know when the danger has passed, and that you & family are all ok ?

Text or vmail me and I'll post it here if you lose internet connectivity.

202 841 3208

[Bill, KD0HG]

Thanks Paul, it's looking better since the winds have shifted and are now blowing the fire away from here. Plus I'm downhill. Listening to scanner, they're throwing everything they have at it.

Here's an audio feed of the local VHF channel for our firefighters.

http://www.radioreference.com/apps/audio/?action=cwp&ctid=275

[Bill, KD0HG]

Slurry bomber in action. Sorry about quality of cell phone pix.
4-engine bomber of some kind. Sound is awesome.

[WB2EMS]

Pic is kind of small but that almost looks like an old Lockheed Electra /P3 Orion. I didn't know they used those in that capacity, but the WWII birds like the A26's are wearing out.

Anyone ever see the movie "Always" about the aerial tanker crews? I love that film. Especially the opening shots with the tanker skimming the lake while the fishermen are out there.

Be safe Bill.

[W1IA]

Wow!
Be carfull Bill. Sounds like you have taken care of business though.

Brent

[WA3VJB]

Well please know we're thinking about you and hope you're out of the path.

Scary stuff.

A few years ago someone sent me some pictures of an old tanker that suffered a wing fracture. I think the shots are out there for public consumption, but as I recall, the wing folded up and over the fuselage and the thing crashed, killing all aboard.

Bad stuff all around.

Thanks for that audio link.

Thanks Paul, it's looking better since the winds have shifted and are now blowing the fire away from here. Plus I'm downhill. Listening to scanner, they're throwing everything they have at it.

Here's an audio feed of the local VHF channel for our firefighters.

http://www.radioreference.com/apps/audio/?action=cwp&ctid=275

[KM1H]

Anything from a DC-8 and higher is a jet, the 10 is the one that the cargo hatch used to blow off in the early 70's; I watched one go down at O'Hare.

Carl

[N0WEK]

They lost two 4 engine water bombers a couple of years ago; one was a C-130A that lost it's wings (the A model had a weaker wing and they flew it too heavy and too fast).

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1894827/plane_crash/

The other was a PB4Y which is a single tail version of the B-24 which they also pulled the wings off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5uHSezeB9k&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMCq22Vpa18&feature=related

And the biggest of all, the Martin Mars, only two left in the world and still working...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PQbv6HdYoI&feature=related

[Opcom]

"shelter in place".. if it's possible, tends to keep looters away too. At least after the first round.

[W1AEX]

Sorry you are so close to the fire(s) Bill but glad the winds have died down and the crews are having more success suppressing it. This is my first trip to Denver and I have been impressed with the way people are handling it all. My wife and I are heading up to Rocky Mountain National Park tomorrow and have been told that travel will not be an issue, and many are returning to their homes.

You sure live in a beautiful state! We have hiked many miles of the trails in Golden Gate Canyon as well as Roxborough State Park. I have taken hundreds of jaw dropping pictures of the scenery. 

Hope the current crisis resolves with no additional damage to your area.

73,

Rob W1AEX

[KL7OF]

Bill....Hang in there....and good luck...The DC 6 (4engines) is still in use in Alaska hauling cargo and fish>  Northern Air Cargo and Everts Air haul have several flying every day in the summer...They come right over my place at about 200 ft on approach to King Salmon...It is quite a sight to see one take off from the Gravel runway at Togiak with a big load of fish....Lots of noise and dust...I have seen the DC 6 with big bladder tanks inside load up with fuel and take off from Kenai airport bound for the villages in SW Alaska.......Thats some real flying with real airplanes...Stay cool...Be safe...Steve

[K1JJ]

Glad things are getting better there, Bill.

Yep, the stresses are tremendous when loaded down with water and the pilot tries to fly low and maneuver. Just like aerobatic flying, they can rip the wings clean off if the structure is flawed.

Colorado is my favorite state out west. I lived there twice for a total of one year. Made good use exploring the countryside often. What a colorful and unusual state.

Keep us updated, OM.

T

[WA1GFZ]

I thought the 10 at O'Hare had a motor fall off

[Bill, KD0HG]

We're not getting any timely updates from the smoke eaters or the media. Very frustrating. No word on containment or status.

I will say that my place has been enveloped in a choking, acrid smoke since last evening, there wasn't any real sunrise ths morning. Need headlights on the car. Denver media reports there are eight aircraft involved in firefighting and the federal hot shot fire crews are now involved. The terrain the fire is in is impossibly rugged, they can't get fire trucks in and everything is being done on foot and by air support. Those fire crews are one tough bunch of mofos.

My place is accessible by fire trucks and there are several nearby lakes that pumpers can draw water from as needed, they're putting top priority on protecting structures, so I'm actually feeling a bit more relieved than yesterday.

Of all things, there is now a Boeing 747 in service as a tanker. It can lay down a 3-mile line of slurry in one run, 20,000 gallons I heard. They can't fly into severely tight terrain, but it's amazing to see a monster aircraft like that with the flaps hanging all the way out going as slowly as it can. That's got to take some skilled flying, low and slow is always dangerous and jets don't have the instant throttle response that prop planes do.

[WA3VJB]

I thought the 10 at O'Hare had a motor fall off

Correct. Engine pylon failure (motor mount).  I remember it real well because a couple months later I flew into O'Hare for a friend's wedding.

http://yarchive.net/air/airliners/dc10_ohare_crash.html

This was also the flight that brought an end to in-flight video of takeoffs.

It is thought the crew, as was typical, had turned on the front camera for the passengers during the rollout.

Meantime, inside the O'Hare terminal, a passenger managed to snap a photograph of the distressed plane seconds before impact.



Source:  http://www.airdisaster.com/special/special-aa191.shtml

[W3GMS]

Bill,

I have always felt that a fire would be the toughest thing to endure on ones property.  It brings back memories of the fire that Tim, WA1HLR had many years ago. 

It does appear from your posts that things are somewhat better which is sure good news.  Keep us posted on how things go. 
Good luck!

Regards,
Joe, W3GMS 

[WA1GFZ]

My Dad worked with the DC 10 pylon a bunch during engine tests. He said the last guy who installed the bolts caused the failure.

[Bill, KD0HG]

I just watched a news conference on the fire and the investigation.

IN SPITE of extreme fire danger and a lack of measureable rain here since late July, some moron decided to burn leaves and small branches on his property. His fire immediately got out of control.

Criminal charges are pending.

[k4kyv]

I heard this interesting story last Friday, about the 1910 fire that changed the nation.

http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=129750575&m=129773970

Here is a transcript of the audio.

http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=129750575

[KF1Z]

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2123/

[Bill, KD0HG]

Fascinating story, Don. I had never heard of that 1910 fire. I do believe an area the size of CT could have burned over a weekend.

If one has never lived in the western US during fire season, you wouldn't believe how fast it can move, especially in dry grassland. It's exactly like pouring gasoline on the ground and tossing a match.
Spreading at yards every second. Fearsome, and you can't outrun it. I've seen it once, it's like an instant 'FOOM'.

Then add wind.

[KF1Z]

My wife is a wildland firefighter....
She said she'd rather be in a burning forest, than out in the dry grassy areas....

[N0WEK]

I heard this interesting story last Friday, about the 1910 fire that changed the nation.

http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=129750575&m=129773970

Here is a transcript of the audio.

http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=129750575

Great interview!

I ordered the book.