Air Tanker Base opens to combat Brown Fire

SIERRA VISTA — The Forest Service’s Air Tanker Base operations opened earlier than its planned May 10 date, albeit it is currently operating out of the Sierra Vista Municipal Airport, not from Fort Huachuca’s Libby Army Airfield.

Gilbert Gil, Coronado National Forests Sierra Vista Ranger District Air Tanker Base manager, said the Army is planning to make repairs to some of the area on the post which support aircraft operations for the Forest Service, requiring the need to move the functions to the city’s airport.

Tuesday morning the site on the civilian side of the airfield was busy as three P2Vs and two single engine air tankers, called SEATs, were being filled with retardant to drop on the Brown Fire which began Sunday afternoon

It has grown from the initial report of about 25 acres on Sunday to nearly 366 as of 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Spencer Robertson, crew manager for Phos-Chek, the contractor who mixes the retardant powder and water, said the call went out to start up the program on Sunday.

Tuesday he and other of the company’s attack team were mixing 2,000 pounds of powder with 1,800 to 2,000 gallons of water to be pumped into the planes which would release the retardant on the fire.

The mixing was done in two large blue truck-pulled containers, each emblazoned on the rear sides with decals saying “Rain for Rent.”

At one time all three P2Vs and the two SEATs were lined up waiting to receive the material.

A P2V, a twin-engined prop driven — with two small jet engines for extra power — can hold 2,082 gallons of retardant, while the SEATs can carry around 700 gallons, said Robertson, who like many of the crew live in the Serra Vista area.

Two of the P2Vs — numbers 5 and 45 — are owned by Neptune Aviation Services, Inc., from Montana, and another, — 48 — is owned by Minden Aviation in Nevada.

The P2V was designed near the end of World War II and entered U.S. Navy service in 1947 and continued to fly in the U.S. military until 1987.

By noon Tuesday nine retardant missions of the P2Vs and SEATs had been accomplished and the rest of the day, the aircraft could be heard flying over Sierra Vista as they either took off or returned from retardant-dropping missions.

Gil said the DC-10 Very Large Air Tanker — which is flying its first missions ever over the Huachuca Mountains — is based in Mesa, where the plane is filled with retardant for each mission over the Brown Fire.

Due to the Brown Fire the Sierra Vista Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest has closed some areas in the vicinity of the blaze.

According to the Forest Service being on Forest Service Road 5736, Brown Canyon Ranch Road and Forest Service Trails 115, 116, 117, 122, 123,129, 103 and other trails associated with them is prohibited.

The purpose of the closures is to allow for public safety from hazards associated with emergency fire suppression activity on the Brown Fire

The area will remain closed until May 1, or until the order is rescinded, whichever is earlier.

Any violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000.00 for individuals, $10,000.00 for organizations and/or imprisonment for not more than six months.

For further information contact the Sierra Vista Ranger District at 520-378-0311.

I don't know what it is like in the in those mountains, but during the early 60's I worked for the Forest Service just West of Snoqualmie Pass area in Washington State.

We had fires, usually late in the Summer and early in the Fall. These fires weren't like what they have now, and it is not due to climate change or global warming.

Then there were 'lookouts' spaced around the District on mountain tops. They would spot the 'smokes' early and even though we had to pack into the fire (there were not many roads) we got there early enough so the fires didn't have time to become large.

Some bean counter decided that it was too costly to have 'lookouts'. Heliocopters could do the same thing. Since then fires have been larger and more damaging.

Very true, what you say about bean counters.

This fire started on Sunday afternoon. The Forest Service put a few hand crews on it and flew some air missions. It was at 25 acres that evening, and their goal was to keep it from crossing the ridgeline and spilling into an inhabited canyon.

By Monday evening, it was over 300 acres and in very real danger of breaking out over the ridge. (It was in a very incaccessible bowl then...and still is.) Crews have been ferried up the mountain by helicopter and set down to hike in. The closest landing spot for the choppers is still an hour’s hike away from the fire.

This morning the city smelled pretty strongly of wood smoke but there was very little smoke rising from the bowl. This afternoon, there is only a little more smoke rising. It appears to be thin and widespread instead of rising from localized and concentrated blazes in the bowl.

Very true, what you say about bean counters. This fire started on Sunday afternoon. The Forest Service put a few hand crews on it and flew some air missions. It was at 25 acres that evening, and their goal was to keep it from crossing the ridgeline and spilling into an inhabited canyon. By Monday evening, it was over 300 acres and in very real danger of breaking out over the ridge. (It was in a very incaccessible bowl then...and still is.) Crews have been ferried up the mountain by helicopter and set down to hike in. The closest landing spot for the choppers is still an hour’s hike away from the fire. This morning the city smelled pretty strongly of wood smoke but there was very little smoke rising from the bowl. This afternoon, there is only a little more smoke rising. It appears to be thin and widespread instead of rising from localized and concentrated blazes in the bowl.

I also should have add that during the time I worked for the Forest Service grazing was allowed. The cattle and sheep ate the fuel down in the meadows that would dry up in late summer and fall, thereby reducing fire danger in those areas.

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