Friday, June 15, 2007

California Fire News

Cal Fire News - Jumbo air tanker going online

Posted: 14 Jun 2007 10:52 AM CDT

Jumbo air tanker going online Jumbo air tanker going online
04:33 PM PDT on Wednesday, June 13, 2007
By DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise

VICTORVILLE - It can hold 12,000 gallons, 10 times as much as California's other air tankers, and create a fire line three-quarters of a mile long in just eight seconds.

Now, the unique DC-10 air tanker will be available full time to battle the state's wildfires, thanks to a new $15 million, three-year contract that takes effect Friday.

"We think, and Cal Fire thinks, it is going to be a game changer," said Rick Hatton, a managing partner for 10 Tanker Air Carrier, the jet's owner. "It is very effective, especially when trying to contain a large fire."

Story continues below

Stan Lim / The Press-Enterprise

A modified DC-10 drops a load of retardant near Highway 243 to battle the Esperanza Fire. Thanks to a new three-year contract the unique DC-10 air tanker will be available full time to battle the state's wildfires.

The deal, ordered by Gov. Schwarzenegger earlier this year, comes after the Victorville-based jumbo jet debuted last year with a limited evaluation contract. It won praise in fighting six wildfires in California and one in Washington. Each of the fires the plane has worked are noted on the jet's windows.

The exclusive contract with Cal Fire makes the jet available for 122 days from June 15 to October 15. The cost to operate the air tanker totals $41,000 a day or $5,002,000 per year. There also is a $5,500 per flight hour cost.

The contract means the jet will be available immediately, rather than on a call-when-needed basis. The jet will be able to respond to fires within an hour, fire officials said.

"This is going to be a great tool," said Mike Padilla, chief of aviation for Cal Fire, the state's fire protection agency. "This aircraft has the speed and capacity to go to any fire in California."

News - Fire burns 200 acres, suspect sought

Posted: 14 Jun 2007 11:37 AM CDT

Fire burns 200 acres, suspect sought :Redding Record Searchlight:

Fire burns 200 acres, suspect sought

By Record Searchlight staff
Originally published 07:55 a.m., June 14, 2007
Updated 07:55 a.m., June 14, 2007

Fire information

RED BLUFF – A fire burned 200 acres of grass and oak trees Wednesday in the Durley Flat area about eight miles south of Paynes Creek and continues to burn today.

The Dye Fire was 65 percent contained this morning and is expected to be fully contained by this afternoon, said David Harp, a Cal Fire public information officer.

He said the fire was caused by an illegal campfire and was reported by Inskip Hill Lookout personnel at 3:35 p.m.

Fire investigators are asking for the public's help in finding the person responsible for starting the fire. The person fled from the scene in a vehicle, possibly a pickup, in the direction of Hogsback Road or Plum Creek Road, Harp said.

Anyone with information on the person responsible may call Cal Fire's Tehama County headquarters at 528-5199.

On Wednesday, 10 engines, four bulldozers, eight fire crews, two water tenders, five air tankers, three helicopters and one air attack were used to contain the fire.

The fire is located in a remote area and no structures are threatened, Harp said.

Strong winds have ushed the fire into the Antelope Creek drainage making it difficult for firefighters to control, Harp said. Some minor heat-related injuries were reported on the fire, but details were not immediately available.

Cal Fire was assisted by the Tehama County Fire Department, U.S. Forest Service, California Department of Fish & Game and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.