The All-Purpose Wildfire Thread

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zBrown

Ice climber

Brujò de la Playa

Oct 7, 2014 - 07:52pm PT

Reilly

Mountain climber

The Other Monrovia- CA

Oct 7, 2014 - 08:19pm PT

Chief, thanks, I gladly stand corrected. However, it is really difficult to completely assess an
old airframe like those. That also is a lot of of airplane for single pilot ops, especially when
things go south and they usually do so in a critical flight phase when the workload is already
very high, which would be most of the time when fire fighting at low altitude. Very little margin
for error. Congress should buy those guys brand new Hercs and C-17's.

RP3

Big Wall climber

Twain Harte

Oct 7, 2014 - 08:44pm PT

That picture is terrible. Heartfelt condolences to the family and friend of the pilot. Also positive thoughts to the kids of EP who saw that happen. Truly awful...

Clint Cummins

Trad climber

SF Bay area, CA

Oct 7, 2014 - 08:58pm PT

Sad to see such a crash while fighting a fire.
It looks like the plane impacted the top of the right side of Parkline Slab.
It's very hazardous terrain for flying a fixed wing:

big cliffs

steep uphill in the canyon

hard left turn in the canyon

powerlines

smoke possibly obscuring things

nita

Social climber

chica de chico, I don't claim to be a daisy.

Oct 7, 2014 - 09:52pm PT

JOEY.F

Gym climber

It's not rocket surgery

Oct 7, 2014 - 09:55pm PT

Terrible...Had no idea...

cragnshag

Social climber

san joser

Oct 7, 2014 - 10:23pm PT

Clint- check your email.

susu

Trad climber

East Bay, CA

Oct 7, 2014 - 10:30pm PT

Horrible - so sad

neebee

Social climber

calif/texas

Oct 7, 2014 - 11:10pm PT

hey there say, all... oh no... so sad, i can't even think of anything to say... the help and service that they do, just should not have to end this way... heartbreaking...

condolences and prayers for the family and loved ones and... very sad...

Clyde

Mountain climber

Boulder

Oct 8, 2014 - 09:48am PT

More info on the crash: http://wildfiretoday.com/2014/10/07/cal-fire-loses-contact-with-air-tanker/

neebee

Social climber

calif/texas

Oct 8, 2014 - 10:25am PT

hey there say, ... as to the fire, i had not even realized there was more going on in yosemite...

please do, keep us informed when you can...

all very sad... :(

Bill_8888

climber

Oct 8, 2014 - 11:39am PT

Can anyone give me the contact information for Tom Ronay, the person who took the photo of the fire ball just after the crash of the air tanker near Yosemite National Park on October 7. I would like to ask permission to use the photo on my website, WildfireToday.

HighTraverse

Trad climber

Bay Area

Oct 8, 2014 - 11:56am PT

I saw another picture of the fireball attributed to Ken Yeager.
I can't vouch for the accuracy. You can try to reach Ken at the Yosemite Climbing Association website.

SteveW

Trad climber

The state of confusion

Oct 8, 2014 - 12:17pm PT

Sincere condolences to the pilot's family and friends.
Why can't it rain out there????

HighTraverse

Trad climber

Bay Area

Oct 8, 2014 - 12:41pm PT

As sad as losing a pilot is, CalFire has a pretty amazing safety record.
I don't have the numbers to compare to other professions but considering the risks of the job they do very well.
Many thousands of men and women out on the fires every year. Many of them for weeks at a time working day and night, often for very long shifts sleeping in the bush when they get the chance for a nap. Thousands of aircraft sorties in very dangerous conditions.

CalFire is a helluva a professional organization. The California Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (CDCR) inmate crews are often the boots on the ground and a huge asset.

dave729

Trad climber

Western America

Oct 8, 2014 - 01:06pm PT

What is it with Foresta? Its like a magnet to wildfires.

Seems it would be cheaper in the long
run for the State to replace all the structures in
Foresta with refractory grade concrete block houses with
fire-rated glass-ceramic windows and steel roofs
and fire doors.

Then remove the soil in the half mile radius so
nothing could grow near the dwellings just for over-kill.

Cheaper than spending millions every few years just to put out the same
stupid fire again and again and again.

Modern, fire resistant home in the mountains above Malibu California.
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/413205334531248882/

Gene

climber

Oct 8, 2014 - 01:34pm PT

Sacramento October 8, 2014 - CAL FIRE officials today released the identity of the pilot killed in yesterday’s airtanker crash in Yosemite National Park. Geoffrey “Craig” Hunt, age 62, of San Jose was a 13 year veteran pilot of Dyncorp International under contract with CAL FIRE.

“We continue to mourn the tragic loss of Craig,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE director. “We know wildland firefighting is an inherently dangerous job, but Craig made the ultimate sacrifice.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Craig’s family during this difficult time,” said Jeff Cavarra, program director for DynCorp International.

Today the National Transportation Safety Board has assumed command of the investigation and CAL FIRE continues to support them.

http://yubanet.com/regional/Pilot-Killed-in-Fatal-Airtanker-Crashed-Identified.php#.VDWfUvldWHQ