The fires on the MEU Lightning Complex are so spread out from the helibase. This one I am heading to is 30 miles away. The best way to get to and from the far fires is flying on top of the smoke instead of through it the entire way. Once overhead you can see down through it to get to your destination. The clean air above looked like a whole different world. These were taken in the early morning. The smoke layers looked completely different on my mid day and afternoon flights.
Posts
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
7 comments:
Desiree,
Being in Mendocino County you have to realize you are flying over "The Hippie Generation."
They escaped Southern Ca. during the mid 70's and bought land up in those parts. As time passed they morphed into "Yippies", (upward mobile hippies with cash) and turned into millionaires as land values increased. They would latter get into city councils and become everything they denounced in the 60's.
That smoke your breathing is probably comprised of about 90% "Chingoo-Devil-Dick-Weed." We had some of that creep into Laguna Beach in the early 70's and it's "Mucho Lick The Lawn Time". Munchie Time is one of the side effects. Eating a whole super size Oreo pack of cookies or box of "Capt. Crunch"is not uncommon.
You saw the backyards from the air.
That grass color sure is different from the local flora. You have a good eye. If you start craving Twinkies, R.C. Colas and Taco Bell Tacos be not afraid. Maintain your S.A. and drink wine once on the ground, wait 12 hrs. and repeat. ˇThat should settle any side effects.
Awesome pics Dez. Be safe.
Desiree & Mike,
I believe this is the site you want: Satellite photos
Click on the area (subset) you want to see such as AERONET_SANTA_CRUZ
Then click on "Display alternate dates available for this subset" at the bottom of the page.
Then click on that date that you want (they will appear further down on the page).
Richard
Desiree & Mike,
That link I gave you doesn't seem to produce pictures that are as good as the ones last year when I was following the Zaca fire. Maybe it is because the site says they are now generating the pictures in a different way.
Try This then click on one of the pictures of "Fires in California."
Here's one satellite link. Hope yo like green. Don't ignore the maneuvering control in upper right.
http://www.intellicast.com/National/Satellite/Visible.aspx?location=USCA1120
The hunt continues.
I hope you don't mind but I stole one of your pics, one of you in your flight suit leaning against Engine 58 at the helibase, and put it in a post I wrote about Chopper Chick. It's on my Wildfire today blog.
Keep up the good work. It's always interesting reading about the behind the scenes activities in the world of helicopters.
Hope you're safe and sound up there over our heads. When you get time, and if you're so inclined, you can drop into my blog to pick up a little award, if you want it.
I worked the Rainbow fire (Lime Complex) July 1-14. Thankfully we have Pilots like you that dropped food into us. We spiked out at the fire for 8 nights in a row. The Rainbow fire later because the Trough fire because of a blow up by the Trough fire.
Do have a question for you. I was the lookout on Rainbow and during that time we required some water drops. The firefighters on the ground didn't have a GPS. I used my GPS and shot a bearing to the smokes in their area and took an estimated at their LAT/LONG. I turned out to be within a few feet, less than 20, of their drop location. Our Division Sup didn't want to use my estimate thinking either I was wrong or not close enough for a pilot to use. How close do you need/like your LAT/LONG to be when you can get them. Thanks for being there. Pilots are an essential part of the fire fighting team.
Mike
Post a Comment