Keepin' Em Safe in Texas

Our AOR. Note Galveston Bay at the bottom, and the
Louisiana border on the right.

Well, this is my 10th day here in Texas with California Interagency Incident Management Team 4 (CIIMT 4). This has turned into a very interesting assignment. We are managing the "South East Texas Complex". A complex is usually a group of fires being managed by a single incident management team (IMT). In this case we have an area of responsibility (AOR) of about 25,000 square miles (over 15,000,000 acres). Currently there are about seven fires we are actively working on. Most are either 100% contained or close to it. However, we are staying to assist with the new fires that are sure to start here over the next couple of weeks.

We provide support in every way possible to the Texas State Forest Service, the state agency responsible for wildfire suppression. We have a small air force assigned to us (two heavy helicopters, a light and medium helicopter, plus a couple of Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs). The SEATs are big modern turbine powered cropdusters! They are very agile compared to the larger tankers, and quite effective under the right circumstances. So, we also have access to those big brutes of the firefighting aviation world: heavy air tankers. These are twin engine and four engine planes (mostly retired military), and yes we have the Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT) the DC-10....yes a DC-10. The same DC-10 jumbo jet that flies commercial passengers and cargo missions. This brute is very cool to watch, and is particularly effective in this big flat country! Here is a video of the DC-10 (Tanker 910) dropping on a fire in California last year. It can drop 11,000 gallons in a single run.

Here is a "SEAT" to compare, the fire was in Utah a few years ago. About 800 gallons.

Interesting contrast huh??

So today Don Will and I went up to Huntsville to do a review of the aviation operations being conducted out of the Huntsville airport. Don is a trainee safety officer, however he has a long and distinguished background in firefighting operations. So this was a great opportunity for him to practice and learn the safety officer role, and for both of us to learn more about aviation operations behind the scenes on fires!

Vertol 4 Charlie Hotel

Don discussing issues with pilots
and crew of 4 Charlie Hotel.

We had a good conversation with the heli-base manager, helicopter managers, pilots and mechanics. The two heavy helicopters were most impressive. A Vertol twin rotor ship, and Sikorsky S-64E Sky Crane. These two represent the most capable helicopters in terms of water dropping capacity. Depending on temperature and altitude they can dump around 1,500 to 2,000 gallons at a pop. They are amazing machines, and incredibly complex. It is amazing how well all of this operation works. Think about it. One day we had three heavy helicopters, and two medium sized ships, several SEATS, a couple of heavy air tankers, and the DC-10 all working on one fire! The whole thing is managed by an air attack supervisor in a twin engine Beechcraft orbiting the fire and directing the "show". Pretty incredible.

Left to right: Don, yours truly, and Kerry our Air Operations Branch Director
Standing in front of "Ichabod".

 Over all we spent about two hours at the heli-base. These folks had it pretty dialed in. Especially given that it was a temporary set up, and that they could be moved at a moment's notice. I talked to one of the Sky Crane's mechanics, and he told me that one blade (there are 5 total) cost close to $400,000! The Sky Crane that was on site was named "Ichabod". It took me a few minutes, but I got it eventually...Ichabod Crane! (You know...the Legend of Sleepy Hollow!)

After the inspection we ducked into the local truck stop restaurant called the "Hitchin' Post" and I had some delicious fried catfish. It was amazing!

"Old Sparky" the electrode was attached to the condemned's
shaved head and left foot.

Across the street from the airport was the Texas State Prison Museum. We decided to check it out before heading back to the Incident Command Post. It was a small museum, but pretty darn interesting. Probably the most chilling display was "Old Sparky" the electric chair that was used for executions from 1924 to 1964. I could imagine strapping the condemned man into the chair, and attaching the electrodes to his shaved head after a thin sponge soaked in salt water was placed on his bald skull. The other electrode was attached to the left foot. Turn on the juice, and I imagine it was quite a flashy and smelly show!

Don't know where Clyde got this gun, but it sure is pretty!

There was also a display of Bonnie and Clyde newspaper clippings and a nickel plated pistol recovered from their car after they were ambushed and killed by Texas Rangers.   I also found an interesting display of Texas prison farm tools. One tool identified as a "Cane knife" used for the back breaking work of cutting sugar cane was identical to the tool I learned to use at the beginning of my career to cut fire line through southern California chapparal! It is called a "brush hook" in the firefighting world, and is obsolete since it has been replaced by the modern chainsaw. I will never forget learning how to wield this nasty cutting tool. If you came down at the wrong angle it just would not cut. But if you had it right, it would go through a 4 inch diameter stem in a single easy stroke.

This nasty tool was labeled as a "Cane Knife" but we call
it a "Brush Hook" in the fire service.

Ah, so much for reminiscing....I'll take a chainsaw any day!!

After the museum, we headed back to ICP and caught up with our paperwork in preparation for tomorrow's work shift. Every day we make a very detailed plan, and publish it for all folks involved in the effort. Our part is a message on safety. The idea is to alert folks of hazards and keep them on their toes and maintaining  their own situational awareness.

Should I mention "Old Sparky"?

That's All!