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Show 16 HOitopv; August 24, 2000 Tanker station on Hill busy sui by Mary Galbraith Hilltop Times staff Hills seen increased air traffic as several have piled onto the runway loaded with thouused to halt C-13- 0s AH' - , V !i sands of gallons of a sticky red solution fire in its tracks. Since July 25, firefighters based at the Forest Services Tanker Station on base have dropped almost a million gallons of fire retardant during more than 350 flights, or sorties. Commercial tankers and helicopters are used early in the season. Depending on the size and length of the fire season and how close the blazes are to populated areas, military units are called in by the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise and activated by the Pentagon. The Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System MAFFS was activated in the 1970s to supplement are fitted with the Forest Service. MAFFS tanks that hold fire five pressurized 3,000 gallons retardant, known as slurry. The full load is usually dropped at once in an aerosol stream. It takes about five seconds to empty the tanks. The slurry is dropped on unburned acreage to create a fire line. The retardant is 85 percent water and 15 percent ammonium sulfate with coloring added to mark the drops. The retardant increases tree tolerance to resist fire and acts as a fertilizer. The slurry is heavy enough to penetrate the foliage canopy and reach the floor, where dead and dry wood is often found. When dropped, one load covers an area about a quarter-mil- e long and 60 feet C-13- 0s Photo by Senior Airman Brian Christiansen Guardsmen have been helping extinguish fires across the West like this recent fire near Echo Reservior. Air National by Mary Galbraith Hilltop Times staff wide. MAFFS units include the 153rd Airlift Wing from Cheyenne, Wyo.; 146th AW from Port Hueneme, Calif.; 145th AW from Charlotte, N.C.; and 302nd AW from Peterson AFB, Colo.' Tech. Sgt. Keith Dennis, an information manager with Charlottes MAFFS unit, said the amount of timber burned this year would have built over 2 million homes. And added this years season is unique With many Western states under a blistering siege as wildfires continue to char acreage during an abnormally dry year, Hill has experienced only a five acre blaze near one major fire the base golf course sparked when winds broke an electric line that arced on the ground. Hills top firefighter, Chief Robert Schultz, is pleased with the bases record this year. Weve been fortunate this year.Weve had minimal fire loss in any areas structures, aircraft or wildland, said Shultz. However, he stresses the Wasatch Front and many surrounding states are under extreme fire conditions. Typically were in a high risk fire situation, but its been extreme for about a month and we expect that to continue on through the season, said Schultz. He credits Hills success to a fulltime staff of seven fire inspectors that keep on top of potential risk areas and spend time in the field stressing the danger of current conditions. The base is required to keep a minimum of 21 firefighters on duty. The base department is part of a formal mutual aid agreement with 16 local municipalities. Fire departments agree to provide assistance when needed in the community. Schultz said they havent had any recent mutual aid calls, but the base is frequently called upon to help in hazardous material situations and to help dispose of flammable liquids that are difficult to control Weve been fortunate this year. Weve had minimal fire loss in any areas structures, aircraft or wildland. W with water. Chief Robert Schultz Schultz said the department proac- tively shares its message. They recently participated in a safety week activity at a local hardware store with com-- 1 munity police officersfTfredepaVt-men- t is also preparing for Fire Prevention Week, which begins Oct. 9; The annual event gives base firefighters a chance to showcase their efforts and inform the public on methods they can use to prevent fires. In the meantime, Schultz is encouraging base personnel to properly dispose of smoking materials and charcoal from barbecue grills. He reminds anyone using a gas or charcoal grill to keep it several feet away from struc- tures. He said fire danger is often tied to seasonal activities like campfires and barbecuWin warmers months and electric lights and candles around Christmastime. During those times we increase our vigilance and make the base populous aware of the inherent dangers, he i said. Above all, the chief cautioned people to not hesitate dialing 911. The immediate notification is key to us getting us there in time to mitigate the circumstance, he said. People have a tendency not to want to cal 911. Dont hesitate to do that because wed rather have a false call then a late call because it puts our firefighters al risk when a fire is allowed to burn longer and get bigger. because its taxing several regions around the country simultaneously, leaving firefighters shorthanded. Dennis said the National Interagency Fire Center can effectively manage 350 fires. Right now there are over 400 that firefighters are struggling to suppress. MAFFS is a supplemental force used when contract planes are no longer able to keep up with missions because of scope. Its unusual for MAFFS to be called out this early in the fire season. Units arrived at Hill last month. Lee Rackham, a Forest Service safety officer who spends three months a year at the tanker base and the rest at the Ogden Range District, said the tanker base has been cramped, but he appreciates the efforts of almost 100 visiting Guardsmen and Forest Service workers. MAFFS is a real specialized thing and the tanker base couldnt have run the operation without them, Rackham said. Without the military here this year, everyday we were falling a little bit more behind because we didnt have the people or the aircraft to keep up with the fire season. A large tent was erected so the visitors have a place to relax between missions. Staff Sgt. Donna Whitmire, a Cheyenne Guardsman, runs a compressor that pumps the fire retardant. Whitmire was expecting days during her rotation, but said 2 hour days have been more typical since some of the fire activity has slowed. She said after a launch order is called in, it takes about 20 minutes for groundcrew to load and for takeoff. This is Whitmires first prepare a MAFFS mission, and shes enjoyed the work. Ive had a good time here. Its a team effort and you know that youre doing something good out there weather permitting, she said. Maj. Todd Kelly, from Charlotte, has already spent two rotations at the tanker base flying over 15 missions around surrounding states and in the local area. Kelly said theres no average mission, they spend anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours getting to a site and dropping the slurry. Kelly said the rocky mountain terrain and smoke are two of the biggest challenges, especially since many of the navigations are visually based so pilots and crew can drop the retardant in critical areas that haven t been covered. Each crewmember has a job assignment to ensure the plane is safe as it drops retardant from about 150 feet. Kelly said Hill has been a good host site. Its one of the better facilities since theres a permanent tanker baseespecially here, he said. ed 14-ho- 10-1- C-1- 30 ur v. .s j. There are three large fires s 4,320 acres. This year there h state fires burning 230, 161 ac have been, this year there v miHiao six to close burning the ten-yeaverage, A Stage II Fire Restriction i j ar National Forest System lands open campfires except within or recreation area; and sine enclosed vehicle or building, site, or while stopped in material at least three r quettes are permitted ini recreation areas. The Stage II restriction activities from 1 p.m. to Dm ; When we first showed JP the got a little intertiV across the street to real we were doing, and tK munications going, te&ci the importance of our missi some priority to get air Because pilots have I11 of days they can fly in arcn sonnel about once a wa,S( F-1- 6s crew. Kelly said he expey many more rotations a s n was already taxed by several personnel will sp1 V |