The other large air tanker based at MCC fire base is T210…she has been fighting the #whittlefire and she is headed back to the retardant pits. This 737 was formerly in the Southwest Airlines passenger fleet. Converted by Coulson Aviation Australia for the New South Wales Rural Fire Service this “fireliner” has had various roles supporting efforts for the Forest Service (USFS)…this year #Calfire contracted her for 90 days as no other airtankers were left available for #fireseason2023 #avgeek

As #fireseason2023 takes off in #California this is a great announcement about FIRIS …here’s the story…Under the leadership of OCFireAuthority, the #FIRIS program has provided real-time intel to ground crews responding to the 2022 #wildfires. #Californiawildfire
In 2023 and going forward, FIRIS will be jointly operated by #CalOES & #CALFIRE through the state's Fire & Rescue Mutual Aid System on all-hazards incidents. #wildfire #avgeek

@Precis we’re only excepting some thunderstorms in the mountains today, which could possibly, trigger some more #WildFires , just 2 so far this #FireSeason2023 . The once lush green of #WashingtonState are slowly/quickly browning around the edges; and it’s such a scary part of #ClimateChange and leaving my nieces and nephews with a disastrous future with higher year round temperatures, less potable water, and less food growth/production which will affect generations yet to be.

FROM the Los Angeles Times - “Wet winter may delay — but not deter — 2023 fire season; ‘We must not let our guard down’”

#CAwx #Climate #FireSeason2023

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2023-05-02/wet-winter-may-delay-but-not-deter-2023-fire-season

More airtanker preparation for #fireseason2023 …this in the Los Padres National Forest in Southern California…Coulson Aviation will be conducting training exercises beginning April 24 and intermittently thru May 2 near the Alisal Fire burn scar west of the Santa Ynez Comm Site. This is only a pre-season preparedness drill and is not in response to an actual wildfire event. #Californiawildfire

#CalFire is busy with training and prep for the #fireseason2023 Here is a video of the two-person, 500-foot progressive hoselay applies a continuous wet line to a simulated fireline, using wildland firefighting equipment and basic verbal communication techniques. This shows a section of it from CalFire’s rehire academy this week.

As far as the VLATs (very large air tankers) the 4 10tanker DC-10’s home base is in Albuquerque…Tanker 911 left LakeCity Florida on 4/11 and went to Arizona…Tanker 914 is on the tarmac in Roswell NM…soon the aircraft will leave for Albuquerque for maintenance and prep for the #fireseason2023
#wildfireseason #aerialfirefighting #aviationlovers #aviationphotography #dc10lovers #wildfireready #avgeek #tanker

Reminders of the upcoming #fireseason2023 in North America…particularly the west coast of Canada and the states of Washington, Oregon and California…Airtanker contractors are in full prep mode…like Coulson Air C-130 BALDER, aka Tanker 136, just kicked off its heavy maintenance period in Tucson, AZ. After a ferry flight to Canada, BALDER will undergo various systems upgrades and RADS-XXL tanking system install in preparation for an operational start date in late 2023. #coulsonaviation