[PhiKapMom]

You can make rescues -- I lived out there and know all about San Gorgonio -- could see it very well from my backyard. They are talking about not being able to take on the amount of pounds that are necessary to fight the fires in the higher altitudes. That means that they would not be dropping a full load -- thus the fixed winged aircraft used in the mountains.

Big difference between a rescue and loading up a chopper to make it heavier until you can make a drop.

Reporting what a professional chopper pilot was saying -- I have no idea myself!

[Conservative4Ever]

Spectr would know more on this...but now the winds are a major factor. Your earlier apt description was very good, Mom. This is a mountain range folks...elevation ummmmm 8-9 thousand ft. Further east Mt. San Gorgonio is the highest mountain in SoCal at a little over 10,000ft. This might help with perspective. As Mom said..nearly sheer drop to the vally floor from the 18 where they are fighting this thing.