Are We Walking to Alaska

Are We Walking to Alaska
Are We Walking to Alaska - A True Story

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Fire Fighting by Helicopter

On the day that we drove out to Deming to look for the irises we noticed smoke coming 
up from a nearby mountain

 Then we saw the fire fighting helicopter - dragging a tank behind it - heading for the Nooksack river to dip up water 
 Coming in   -  Water loaded    -    Flying back to                                                        the fire
 The buckets are dipped into the river and can hold up to 12,000 gallons - depending on the power of the helicopter to lift the loaded buckets
 Flying back for another load - we watched as the helicopter made 8 trips to the river
 The empty bucket swings out behind the helicopter on the way to the river, then the bucket is lowered into the river - the helicopter disappears behind the trees
 Lifting the load from the river, the helicopter is right in front of The Sisters Mountains

 Water spray can be seen coming 
from the loaded bucket
The fire extinguished, the helicopter lands at the nearby high school

It was amazing to watch the precision flying of the helicopter to load water for fire fighting.  
We are thankful for the work these amazing 
pilots do to protect our forest.

10 comments:

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

That really is amazing and he is one of our heroes! Great photos my friend. Enjoy your day...I hope it's beautiful! Sweet sweet hugs, Diane

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Wow, those are some great action shots you got!

eileeninmd said...

Hello, that is amazing to see the helicopter doing their amazing firefighting jobs. They are heroes. Happy Tuesday, enjoy your day and week ahead!

Rowan said...

The bucket looks so small in the photograph, it's amazing that they can hold so much water. Those firefighting helicopter pilots do a great job.

Maggie said...

Wow! That is something to see! Thank goodness they got it under control.

Lorrie said...

Those pilots are really talented. We've already had so many forest fires this year that I'm rather dreading the hotter summer weather. Forest fires can be so devastating. Great shots of fire fighting in action!

Lynda (Granny K) said...

Marvellous work those pilots do. Such skill. Thank goodness!

J said...

I have always wondered at the efficacy of this method. It didn't seem like there would be enough water to put out flames. Apparently I'm wrong! So glad there's a safe method that doesn't put firefighters in the direct line of danger.

Kay said...

Oh, no! Already?!? Wildland fire fighting is such hard and dangerous work - on the ground or in the air. You caught some great shots of the helicopter in action.

Carla said...

That bucket holds 12000 gallons of water?!! WOW that's amazing. I would think that amount of weight swinging would make it difficult for the helicopter to fly.
Wow