Despite my sincere comments about what TPTB ought to have done to wipe out entire neighborhoods of stupid people building stupid houses in stupid places once and for all, there's one glittering spot of pure gold that shines out under these circumstances, one that compels musicians who have sold out stadiums to admit who the true rockstars are in this region.
A hat tip to the person who created these short clips, and the videographers who captured the footage. What you see below in these clips is vivid explanation for why firefighters in this area are justifiably treated as if they walk on water.
8 comments:
These crews are astounding. My experience is with fires in New Mexico. I'm fairly steady fixed wing, but there is no way I would pick up a load at high density altitude, make all possible speed to a ridge line, battle Western winds and fire-generated thermals, than put the load on time-on target. Where do we find these people?
Those pilots have big brass balls and crazy skills. My hat goes off to them.
I always marvel at not only the skill and bravery of the pilots, but also at the birds that they fly. Many based on 40+ year old frames that can still fly and do all the things the pilots need them to do. Also a big appreciation for the crews that keep them flying.
Over 63 years ago. Deja vu all over again. Will we ever learn?
LAFD: "Design for Disaster" The Story of the Bel Air Conflagration - 1962
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxnC1WW95XE&t=35s
This 1962 documentary film produced by the Los Angeles Fire Department, describes the historic Bel Air / Brentwood wildfire that started on November 5, 1961 in the Bel Air community of Los Angeles. Over the course of three days, the wind-driven fire destroyed 484 homes, damaged 190 others, and burned over 16,000 acres. Amazingly, there was no loss of life attributable to the blaze.
The then $30 million disaster led to new laws in the City of Los Angeles to eliminate wood shingle roofs, and to clear dry brush away from homes. The film is narrated by actor William Conrad.
You can tell where these pilots are. Follow the clanking of their balls.
Not only looks dangerous - it really is. Just earlier this season a very experienced pilot died in eastern Oregon doing this. And a number of years back, the news showed the footage of a large water bomber losing a wing and taking it in. The combination of smoke, fire induced turbulence, mountains, dark at night, etc. is a horrifically challenging situation.
Meanwhile, above them all circles the equivalent of forward air controllers who identify and target where the drops are made and by whom. In the case of California, CalFire has 18 OV-10 Bronco turboprops for that - truely magnificet birds - with a crew of two, one flying, one doing the airborne fire management.
I am honored and humbled to design the electronics for the imaging systems that search for, discover, map, and present exactly where the fires are and more in real time for these. Definitely puts today's high performance processors to good use!
They be some bad ass motherfuckers.
That's the right stuff.
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