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Fire Boss, such as this single engine air tanker, can scoop up water quickly. Photo DNR

Aviation assets are an important part of our firefighting response. DNR has air resources available to reach and fight wildfires quickly, before they grow large.

Having different types of air resources available means a greater variety of tactics can be used to deal with the range of terrains and fuels that may be burning.

The fleet

The fixed-wing aircraft, which we call single-engine air tankers, are fast and can drop up to 800 gallons of water, retardant, gel or foam. A single pass can lay down a “wet line” in front of a fire – helping to halt the fire’s progress. These planes are best used in fighting fire in open areas with clear ways in and out. They need a nearby airport, unless they’re one of the five DNR craft which can float on water. Those planes are called “fire bosses.”

Fire bosses can scoop up water from nearby lakes. With the ability to work as a land-based aircraft or a water-landing scooper, a fire boss can drop an initial load of retardant, then remain close to the fire to come at it again quickly with a load of water.

The supervisor in charge of air attack oversees operations while in the air.  His or her job is to keep all aircraft flying in coordination, increase situational awareness for safety and help water drops land on-target. See this video that helps explain an air attack operation.

These planes complement DNR’s eight existing wildfire helicopters. These specially-modified helicopters can drop 240 gallons of water or retardant, gel or foam in remote locations and deploy helitack crews (aka helicopter crews) into otherwise unreachable
terrain.

A helicopter with a bucket can be very accurate even when fire is burning in mountainous, crowded forests. With them, DNR firefighters can use a 100 to 300-foot “long line” hovering between trees to dump water below the tree canopy. The long line lets helicopters keep away from the heat while dropping water into the very heart of the fire.

DNR helicopter hovers with a bucket of 240 gallons of water. Photo DNR

Helicopters can also turn around easily and quickly, which means they’re able to work in canyons, where planes can’t safely fly.

Fighting the fire

The top priority of our aviation team is initial attack. Crews work to get aircraft off the ground and on the way to a fire within five minutes of dispatch. The team plans in the air using real-time satellite images to identify a water source and the safest air-traffic pattern between it and the target. Air attack is coordinated with crews working on the ground to fully contain and control the fire.

There are four types of retardants that our air resources, and our firefighters, use when battling wildfire with aircraft.

• Water – easy to get and cheapest to use
• Foam – a simple water enhancer that helps to make the water wetter.
• Gel – a powder form when mixed with water becomes slimy and evaporates slower than water or foam.
• Retardant – a chemical, often an orange/red color, that blocks fire from spreading farther along the ground – when fire burns into it, the fire simply dies out.

Working in unison, aviation and ground crews can have great success.  We saw an example of this over the Fourth of July when combined crews worked together to quickly contain the Hart Road Fire just east of Cle Elum as it threatened homes and a wildlife sanctuary.

Not without limits

However, aviation teams can’t always fly. Nightfall, wind, lightning or poor visibility may ground them. Another preventable hazard that can ground them are drones, or unmanned aircraft systems. Wildland fire aircraft fly low and fast.  Drones pose a serious threat to firefighters and others.

If you fly (your drone), we can’t.

Crews across Washington

More than 60 people make up the aviation firefighting teams available for rapid response to wildland fires. During the summer, equipment and teams are staged throughout the state at locations such as: Olympia, Omak, Colville, Deer Park, Dallesport, Pomeroy, Yakima and Wenatchee.

These crews and equipment are ready to fight fire on DNR-protected lands, or in collaboration with our wildland firefighting partners, in your community and across Washington.

Burned Area Report Summaries and Values at Risk Matrix and Treatments [Along with JPG and PDF Treatment Maps below, KMZ map files are also available to view maps in greater detail in Google Earth (and many other mapping programs). Download the KMZ file (links at right) and save to your computer. Open the Google Earth program. [ If you don’t already have Google Earth, you can download and install it for free HERE. ] Drag the KMZ file onto the Google Earth program icon or main screen (or in Google Earth, click File, Import and select the KMZ file). After the KMZ file loads, you can zoom way in for more detail, change the angle of view, show or hide layers, and adjust transparency of layers.]Diamond Creek Fire Burned Area SummaryValues at Risk Matrix and TreatmentsTreatments Map JPG and PDF format Jack Creek Fire Burned Area SummaryValues at Risk Matrix and Treatments Treatments Map JPG and PDF format Uno Peak Fire Burned Area SummaryValues at Risk Matrix and Treatments Treatments...

Burned Area Report Summaries and Values at Risk Matrix and Treatments [Along with JPG and PDF Treatment Maps below, KMZ map files are also available to view maps in greater detail in Google Earth (and many other mapping programs). Download the KMZ file (links at right) and save to your computer. Open the Google Earth program. [ If you don’t already have Google Earth, you can download and install it for free HERE. ] Drag the KMZ file onto the Google Earth program icon or main screen (or in Google Earth, click File, Import and select the KMZ file). After the KMZ file loads, you can zoom way in for more detail, change the angle of view, show or hide layers, and adjust transparency of layers.]Diamond Creek Fire Burned Area SummaryValues at Risk Matrix and TreatmentsTreatments Map JPG and PDF format Jack Creek Fire Burned Area SummaryValues at Risk Matrix and Treatments Treatments Map JPG and PDF format Uno Peak Fire Burned Area SummaryValues at Risk Matrix and Treatments Treatments...

Contact: Chamise Kramer, Public Affairs Specialist (541) 618-2051 SW Oregon—The Chetco Bar Fire has been declared 100% contained, effective November 2, 2017. The announcement comes as more wet weather moves into the southwest Oregon area, bringing rain and, at higher elevations, snow. Additionally, the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has made documents related to the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) effort available to the public via the RRSNF’s website. People can now access both the full BAER report, and the Specialist Reports that informed that document. (The public should be aware that the Specialist Reports document is a 163-page PDF document, and may take some time to download on slower internet connections.) For up-to-date information regarding the Chetco Bar Fire BAER efforts, follow the RRSNF on Twitter and Facebook.

Contact: Chamise Kramer, Public Affairs Specialist (541) 618-2051 SW Oregon—The Chetco Bar Fire has been declared 100% contained, effective November 2, 2017. The announcement comes as more wet weather moves into the southwest Oregon area, bringing rain and, at higher elevations, snow. Additionally, the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has made documents related to the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) effort available to the public via the RRSNF’s website. People can now access both the full BAER report, and the Specialist Reports that informed that document. (The public should be aware that the Specialist Reports document is a 163-page PDF document, and may take some time to download on slower internet connections.) For up-to-date information regarding the Chetco Bar Fire BAER efforts, follow the RRSNF on Twitter and Facebook.

Numerous hazards brought on by the Norse Peak Fire on the Snoqualmie Ranger District has required the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest to close down sections of the affected area to provide for public safety. The closure order can be viewed here. Click on Exhibit A and Exhibit B to view the closure map and a list of closed roads and trails.

Numerous hazards brought on by the Norse Peak Fire on the Snoqualmie Ranger District has required the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest to close down sections of the affected area to provide for public safety. The closure order can be viewed here. Click on Exhibit A and Exhibit B to view the closure map and a list of closed roads and trails.

View the full report

View the full report

View the Norse Peak Hydrology Report here. You may also be interested in the Norse Peak Geology and Soils Reports.

Norse Peak Geology ReportObjectivesThe objectives of this report are to: 1. Identify debris flow hazards potentially affected by the fire. 2. Identify both emergency and long-term actions that could mitigate potential hazards. View the full report here and the USGS Preliminary Hazard Assessment (debris flow prediction model outputs) here.

View the Norse Peak Hydrology Report here. You may also be interested in the Norse Peak Geology and Soils Reports.

Norse Peak Geology ReportObjectivesThe objectives of this report are to: 1. Identify debris flow hazards potentially affected by the fire. 2. Identify both emergency and long-term actions that could mitigate potential hazards. View the full report here and the USGS Preliminary Hazard Assessment (debris flow prediction model outputs) here.

Norse Peak Soils ReportObjectives: This purpose of this soil assessment is to: ● Summarize the soil types within the fire and briefly discuss the management importance of each type ● Describe the Soil Burn Severity (SBS) within the fire area ● Estimate soil erosion in watersheds determined sensitive to erosion and sediment transport ● Determine whether threat to soil productivity and threat of erosion constitute an emergency ● Determine any needed treatments ● Make recommendations to Forest management View the full report

Norse Peak Soils ReportObjectives: This purpose of this soil assessment is to: ● Summarize the soil types within the fire and briefly discuss the management importance of each type ● Describe the Soil Burn Severity (SBS) within the fire area ● Estimate soil erosion in watersheds determined sensitive to erosion and sediment transport ● Determine whether threat to soil productivity and threat of erosion constitute an emergency ● Determine any needed treatments ● Make recommendations to Forest management View the full report

Officials on the northern portion of the Forest, Blue Mountain and Prairie City Ranger Districts, may continue with prescribed burning operations later this week. Conditions, such as weather and potential smoke impacts will be monitored closely throughout the week. Active project areas include, on the Prairie City Ranger District, Axe, Punch, and Lunch, and Cup (Galena area) on the Blue Mountain Ranger District. Both districts will continue monitoring units ignited over the past couple weeks. On the southern portion of the Forest, Emigrant Creek Ranger District officials will work through prescribed burning of brush piles at campgrounds, and evaluate conditions for broadcast prescribed burning.

The fire area closure spans across the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and Mt. Hood National Forest. There are perilous conditions that greatly compromise public safety within the closure area, such as debris flow, rock fall and land slides.The decision to maintain the area closure was not taken lightly. Forest administrators weighed many factors and concluded that it is necessary to protect the life and safety of the public and of firefighters and emergency responders, as hazards have not yet been mitigated. Our efforts to inform visitors regarding the fire area closure has spanned many weeks, and many warnings and citations have been issued. DUE TO CONTINUED BREACHES WITHIN THE AREA CLOSURE, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WILL ISSUE CITATIONS TO ALL UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS FOUND WITHIN THE AREA CLOSURE.Many trails no longer exist as we know them, and the possibility of getting lost or injured is very high. Please respect the area closure, and your life and safety as well as the...

The fire area closure spans across the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and Mt. Hood National Forest. There are perilous conditions that greatly compromise public safety within the closure area, such as debris flow, rock fall and land slides.The decision to maintain the area closure was not taken lightly. Forest administrators weighed many factors and concluded that it is necessary to protect the life and safety of the public and of firefighters and emergency responders, as hazards have not yet been mitigated. Our efforts to inform visitors regarding the fire area closure has spanned many weeks, and many warnings and citations have been issued. DUE TO CONTINUED BREACHES WITHIN THE AREA CLOSURE, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WILL ISSUE CITATIONS TO ALL UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS FOUND WITHIN THE AREA CLOSURE.Many trails no longer exist as we know them, and the possibility of getting lost or injured is very high. Please respect the area closure, and your life and safety as well as the...