N.W. wisconsin has a large forest fire going right now. 50 structures were burned 6800 acres so far. It was 95 degrees with 25 mph winds yesterday. I had the day off and missed the action, probably will fly on it today.
Huge forest fire in wisconsin
- Thread starter DrBob
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Be careful! Was it set intentionally or do they know? People are getting to be crazy with fire.
I do not have any details as to the origin, I am headed to the airport now I am sure there will be a full day of mop up activity. The winds are calm now and the temp is only 40 f now
Remember, singeing your tail feathers is a No No!
presently the fire is 80% contained size is over 8000 acres 6 supression aircraft are going to work today. 2 cl-415 tankers 2 airtractor 802 tankers and 2 blackhawk helicopters and 1 lead aircraft (me) Just as soon as my plane gets in it will be my turn
Here I am sittin, missin out on the big circus. Waiting for a plane mechanical issues grounded the one I had assigned to me. My personal airplane does not have the right radios. Did see some photo's and I will post some in the near future. Ugly fire.
As of this morning the fire is contained. Approximately 9300 acres were burned, 47 structures destroyed 17 houses and 30 other. No injuries reported. The fire originated near a logging operation near Sims lake in southern Douglas county. Near the town of Barnes. This area is sandy soil and has Intense pine plantations probably 400 square miles and many lakes. It could have been a lot worse... The biggest problem now is that it was not a clean burn, It had many fingers of unburned vegitation with smoldering debris on the edges. Mop up will take days to get all the hot spots put out.
To my dismay I did not get to fly on this fire.
To my dismay I did not get to fly on this fire.
the fire is out. revised acrage is at 8500. light rain forcast later today. cause was not arson
I'm glad everyone is safe, that was a big fire. Thank you for what you do. That's a dangerous, but necessary job.
Will the company replant? If so about how long will it take them and how many new pines will they put in?.
Thanks Knucklehead
I first applied for the job 40 years ago. I was a fresh commercial pilot and figgured it would be an easy job. A good way to build time.. They said come back when you have 2,500 hours low level experience. Shucks I had 500 hours and thought I knew it all.
I did get that job 15 years and many thousand hours later. Just part time, the first forest fire was a real eye opener! It is hot, it stinks, the turbulance can be incredeble. The adrenaline rush gets addicting.
A lot of the timber is salvagable. The nature of a crown fire is the needles and branches burn in the first flash and leaves the main trunk standing. Most of the timber will go for fuel wood, chips for power plants or wood pellets for pellet stoves. This harvest will happen soon and replant will probably happen next spring. About 1000 trees per acre is my best guess. That is with seedlings, We also have done some seeding with the cessna 180 with good results. This seeding usually is done in the late winter months on top of the snow cover.
jekylnz
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So whats the grand total of hours under your belt now bob after 15 or so years of flying??
Your math is as bad as mine.
jekylnz
Well-Known Member
Sorry 40 years later
I quit logging time in 1981 and had 5600 hours then. The only thing I log now are flight instruction given and pilot check rides given. I must keep those records for 4 years. Some times a log book can be your worst enemy. The problem is the lawyers representing the victims of an airplane crash caused by a pilot I may have given instruction to or given a flight check to in the past. The liability can be tremendous.
As for actual time? 17,000 hours would be my estimate.
As for actual time? 17,000 hours would be my estimate.
jekylnz
Well-Known Member
Wow that alot of av gas!!
I just checked and seedling rate is 622 per acre. aerial seed rate is about 3000 seeds per acre with manual thinning at the 5th year or sooner
Thanks. Two more things. How old are the trees when they start harvesting and do they clear cut?
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