Texas Heat!

/ Texas Heat! #921  
The Cass and Marion County Fires are too close for comfort. Although I am not in apparent danger yet. I have heard today that there was a fire at Red River Army Depot which I pass nearly every work day. (My Real job commute.) Everything is so very dry and worrisome. Now that I have my food plots done and winter garden planting started, we probably won't get any rain. Add to that the hot tempers from cabin fever and general onryness and carelessness of individuals, we have a severe potential for disaster. We sure could have used some of the water which caused flooding from Inrene. Lately it seems like it has been a year of extremes. Water brings the floods, dry brings the heat and fires. Uggghhh is there no end.........:confused:
 
/ Texas Heat! #923  
Two fatalities of the Bastrop fire have just been found. No details yet.
 
/ Texas Heat! #924  
charlz said:
Seems like a good use for Evergreen's Supertanker.. which is a 747 set up for water/retardant bombing. Evergreen Supertanker

I would think it would be pretty effective as the land seems reasonably flat compared to the mountains where forest fires happen.
Click to expand...


Dropping fire retardant, I can see. But a DC-10 with a water scoop, I can't see using without long ferry trip times to and from a large enough body of water. I can not think of any body of water nearby that is big enough to handle a DC10 scooping up water. Long straight stretch of water to scoop. Just thinking it would be about an 40-60 minute round trip from the fire to a large enough body of water. I guess they drop enough water each trip to make it worth wild.
hugs, Brandi
 
/ Texas Heat! #925  
KHOU channel 11 news (out of Houston) just stated a Boeing 737 fire bomber is on the way to the Bastrop fire from New York.
I know the news folks go brain dead talking about aviation and aircraft. So I wonder if a DC-10 AND a B737 are on the way..............or are they the same aircraft being reported by loony news folks? One source saying a DC-10 and another source saying B737

Governor Perry was just on the news saying we need to use the assets at Fort Hood and that needs to be fixed.

Years ago when Hurricane Allison dumped foot after foot of water on Houston with the whole country side flooding.............the same thing was said about assets at Fort Hood. Then it was helicopters to rescue folks on tops of their houses. Now it is heavy equipment to help clear fire breaks.
hugs, Brandi
 
/ Texas Heat! #926  
Just heard, on the news again, FEMA is on the scene in Bastrop. Now the chaos goes federal.
hugs, Brandi
 
/ Texas Heat! #927  
Sorry to hear of some much fire loss and the elements being against controlling it.
 
/ Texas Heat! #928  
There was a news article here this morning that the Boise National Forest is sending 2 wildlands engines and 10 firefighters to Bastrop County... and will swap out the firefighters every 2 weeks until the fires are out.

It sounded like TX is just now putting out the call for help, that they have been fighting these fires on their own all this time. Maybe that is why more aircraft are now being dispatched as well? Up here it is pretty common to see crews from other states and during bad fire years even other countries. Is this the first time TX has had fires bad enough to require outside assistance?
 
/ Texas Heat! #930  
EddieWalker said:
I read this article this morning and was reminded of the games that where played with the Gulf Oil Spill. Why are these planes sitting there?

Contract Dispute Grounds Firefighting Planes - HUMAN EVENTS

Eddie
Click to expand...

This type of thing happens from time to time. These things can and do crash from time to time. Like this C130 Crash - YouTube So I can see the governments point about a long-term airworthiness program... which reads $$$$$ to the operating company. Most of the time it is simply bureaucracy though, certain declarations have to be made before funding is made available etc.
 
/ Texas Heat! #931  
Good picture from the local news website of the fire near Bastrop
 

Attachments

  • bastrop 2.jpg
    bastrop 2.jpg
    114.6 KB · Views: 181
/ Texas Heat!
  • Thread Starter
#932  
Been working and unable to keep up with the control efforts, has the lighter winds come into play yet as far as containment?

As far as the DC10, I heard (FWIW), that they would land it and re-fill it. The one that was fighting the Palo pinto fire was going to Abilene for the re-fill.
 
/ Texas Heat! #934  
EddieWalker said:
I read this article this morning and was reminded of the games that where played with the Gulf Oil Spill. Why are these planes sitting there?

Contract Dispute Grounds Firefighting Planes - HUMAN EVENTS

Eddie
Click to expand...

Eddie,
Aircraft that are fire bombers are subjected to more structural stress than an airplane that flies point A to point B. Also the chemical retardants they carry can affect the structures. Like making hay, they go all out in a short period of time. In the haste, scheduled inspections and maintenance can get short changed. I can see the Forest Service stopping contracts easily for a maintenance program that is found lacking.

Now, I wonder why the Forest Service stopped the contract and flying now, just when Texas needs them. Could it be that obama really doesn't like Texas.

Also, if the contract was canceled just for maintenance reasons...............why hasn't a new contract with another operator been signed.:confused3: They are more than one fire bomber outfit out there.
hugs, Brandi
 
/ Texas Heat! #935  
Western said:
Been working and unable to keep up with the control efforts, has the lighter winds come into play yet as far as containment?
Click to expand...

The lighter winds are definitely helping. The 38,000 acre fire is 30% contained.
 
/ Texas Heat! #936  
bindian said:
Eddie,
Aircraft that are fire bombers are subjected to more structural stress than an airplane that flies point A to point B. Also the chemical retardants they carry can affect the structures. Like making hay, they go all out in a short period of time. In the haste, scheduled inspections and maintenance can get short changed. I can see the Forest Service stopping contracts easily for a maintenance program that is found lacking.

Now, I wonder why the Forest Service stopped the contract and flying now, just when Texas needs them. Could it be that obama really doesn't like Texas.

Also, if the contract was canceled just for maintenance reasons...............why hasn't a new contract with another operator been signed.:confused3: They are more than one fire bomber outfit out there.
hugs, Brandi
Click to expand...

Air drops are only useful on small fires. They are great for quick response to keep a small fire from getting large, or to hit hot spots where a large fire jumps a fire line. They can also cool the fire around a structure. With a large, wind-driven wildfire, you will accomplish as much by p***ing on it.

I suspect the budget cuts mandated by Congress had a lot to do with cancelling the flight contracts. I'm sure Ron Paul and his cohorts thought they were doing the best thing for their constituents.
 
/ Texas Heat!
  • Thread Starter
#939  
Caught a little about it on the radio coming in from Paris TX. Pretty much what Don said.

2-Bit, As dry as it is, I think we have been fortunate so far that more fires aren't burning. Doesn't feel like it for folks dealing with it, but the conditions are so good for it, a reflective piece of glass somewhere could ignite a fire.

We need moisture, plain and simple and weatherman say's not in the next 10 day's!
 
/ Texas Heat! #940  
Some counties have now enacted no burning outside at all. You can now now be arrested for welding, grilling or smoking outdoors.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Here are some similar links:

two_bit_score
TSCRA Recovers Stolen Property in N. Texas
Replies
7
Views
3K
MossRoad
MossRoad
 

Footer Links 1

Top