California Support Team Puts Out Fires, Literally
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| CDF crews battle a wildfire in a CSC-maintained helicopter. |
In business, “putting out fires” usually refers to a thorny task requiring quick attention. A team in CSC's Federal Sector Tech Services division takes the expression to a new level and, literally, puts out fires.
Fires raged through Southern California in late 2003, burning more than 750,000 acres and destroying more than 3,600 homes. The fires, the largest in the state's history, could have been even worse were it not for the fire crews battling the flames on the ground, aided by the largest fleet of firefighting aircraft in the United States. CSC's DynCorp Technical Services not only maintains the aircraft fleet, but also provides skilled pilots to fly the firefighting missions.
With a fleet of 52 aircraft and a peak workforce of 115 during fire season, CSC's DynCorp team is integral to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF)'s firefighting efforts. CDF is the state organization responsible for protecting more than 31 million acres of land. Each year, CDF firefighters, fire engines and aircraft respond to an average of 6,300 wildland fires. The fires burn an average of nearly 144,000 acres annually. In 2003, more than 7,400 fires were reported, burning more than 405,871 acres of land under CDF jurisdiction. In 2002, the CDF support team logged 6,455 flights and worked 1,122 fires.
The fleet presently consists of 23 air tankers, 13 tactical command and control airplanes, 11 helicopters, 2 Beechcraft Barons and 2 two Cessna Skymasters. Art Trask, CDF Support Division Manager, says, “The CDF retains ownership of the aircraft, and our team operates the aircraft for the state.”
Fire missions critical
Forty-six pilots fly fire missions for the CDF. Pilots and planes reside strategically at 22 bases across the state, ensuring a 20-minute maximum response time to any location statewide.
Air tankers carry between 800 and 1,200 gallons of fire retardant, a combination of ammonium phosphate and iron oxide for red color. The retardant creates a barrier that slows or redirects the fire and it can also help reduce the heat emitted by the fire.
CDF helicopters carry a fully equipped, ten-person “Helitack” firefighting crew plus a pilot. Once the crew is deployed adjacent to the fire area, the helicopter helps suppress the fire by dropping water or foam from a 330-gallon water bucket attached to the cargo hook and suspended below the helicopter.
Two air tankers, a helicopter, an air attack, a bulldozer, five engines and a hand crew or two comprise the standard wildland fire dispatch in high-risk areas and during hot, dry or windy conditions.
“The important thing is to get there fast and put it out when it’s small,” says Trask. The team is extremely effective, containing 95% of their wildland fires at under 10 acres. Wildland fire suppression is a team effort. Without firefighters on the ground, the job would not be completed.
Keeping pilots safe
A lengthy training process is required of all pilots hired by the CDF Support Team. Trask says, “Most hires far exceed the minimum requirements. We are fortunate to have a pilot workforce that is extremely experienced in aerial wildland fire suppression. It makes all the difference in flight safety.”
New pilots on the team participate in a series of training programs. A pilot begins flying an OV-10 tactical and command aircraft with a state employee, an Air Attack Officer, who is highly experienced in wildland fire suppression tactics. The pilot positions the aircraft over the fire area to provide the best vantage point for the Air Attack Officer, who then controls all the aviation assets and coordinates their use with the Incident Commander on the ground. “They basically choreograph the whole aerial fire fighting resources,” Trask says.
After flying an OV-10 for at least a season, pilots undergo a year and a half of additional training before they can fly air tankers. Pilot trainees usually acquire a minimum of 250 hours performing fire suppression retardant drops with a designated instructor pilot before they are recommended for their “Initial Attack” evaluation ride with a Lead Air Tanker Pilot. Once certified, air tanker pilots normally fly solo, without a copilot.
Attending to the fleet
A large air fleet requires constant scrutiny and attention. A sizeable share of the team’s work involves aircraft maintenance, including inspection, repair and corrosion mitigation.
Many of the aircraft, manufactured for the United States military in the 1950s and 1960s, “are what I consider to be vintage,” says Trask. “The Navy S2s were exposed to salt air during their career aboard military ships. They need a lot of attention. We do whatever it takes to repair and replace any corroded components.”
The future: protecting the land and people
The Federal Sector CDF team works hard to protect California’s people and property. Says Trask, “We regularly see how effectively the aircraft help suppress fires. We know how catastrophic the fires can be to the vegetation, homes and lives.”
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