PARK FIRE HELMET CAM - CAL FIRE EMERGENCY BACKFIRE OPERATION, CLOSE-RANGE RETARDANT DROPS

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  • Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
  • WARNING FOR STRONG LANGUAGE 7/29/2024: Helmet cam footage from Lanes Valley Road near Manton, CA where CAL FIRE conducted an emergency backfire operation due to the rapidly spreading Park Fire. Firefighters gave a valiant effort, however a large spot fire became established on the other side of the road.
    #calfire #california #parkfire #wildfire #gopro #californiafire #californiawildfires

КОМЕНТАРІ • 89

  • @norcalstormchasing
    @norcalstormchasing  Місяць тому +35

    A backfire is a controlled fire set by firefighters in front of an active wildfire to consume fuel and change the direction of the fire. Backfires are often used as an indirect attack method to stop the spread of intense wildfires. The backfire is set along the downwind side of the fireline, and the main fire's natural draft pulls the backfire toward it.

  • @Fivetogoable
    @Fivetogoable Місяць тому +15

    Great perspective on the reality of wildfire fighting. Thanks and keep up the great work!

  • @josephastier7421
    @josephastier7421 Місяць тому +17

    3:00 OV-10 Bronco observation aircraft from the Vietnam war era.

  • @theloneracer1935
    @theloneracer1935 Місяць тому +4

    Ever since going through the camp fire here on the ridge, I've wanted to do what you are doing. Working towards it. Keep up the great work and major props to all them firefighters. God they're bonified badasses.

  • @lindabeauchamp4596
    @lindabeauchamp4596 Місяць тому +5

    Thank you for sharing this video. Great information. Be safe out there 🙏

  • @dgsantafedave1
    @dgsantafedave1 Місяць тому +4

    Thank you for this informative video!

  • @dulcevendetta
    @dulcevendetta Місяць тому +9

    its amazing how easy it is just to create fire and it already starts spreading like nuts

  • @dubby6665
    @dubby6665 Місяць тому +4

    NICE team work good work

  • @wendy3992
    @wendy3992 Місяць тому +7

    These people are amazing! But my God the reality, the animals that perish. But I am so thankful for fire fighters❤

    • @XAlpineSuptDN
      @XAlpineSuptDN Місяць тому +3

      @@wendy3992 While fires do kill some animals a lot of them survive just fine.

  • @shilowaters6082
    @shilowaters6082 Місяць тому +2

    Fascinating! What a bunch of Studs!

  • @XAlpineSuptDN
    @XAlpineSuptDN Місяць тому +6

    Interesting that they put the retardant on the burnout side of the line. Maybe fire was close enough that they needed it slowed down but typically when burning out you want the retardant on the green side (non burn side) to help you stop the spotting from your burn out.

    • @Mrbfgray
      @Mrbfgray Місяць тому +1

      Possibly a mistake, they dropped on green side shortly after.

    • @jimmccabe801
      @jimmccabe801 Місяць тому

      probably not a mistake.​@@Mrbfgray

    • @Mrbfgray
      @Mrbfgray Місяць тому +3

      @@jimmccabe801 Most likely was.

    • @MacPNW
      @MacPNW 16 днів тому +3

      There's no reason to put mud between your fire and your burn.
      Should've made that drop on the green side. But it's a going fire. Things happen.

    • @XAlpineSuptDN
      @XAlpineSuptDN 16 днів тому

      @@MacPNW Yes that is so true but it happens often enough because of a variety of factors. Sometimes they just set up on the wrong line and they aren’t talking to anyone on the ground telling them to move over wingspans etc. Or as you know the LATs and VLATs are not the most nimble of aircraft as far as turning once dropping so not knowing how the road runs maybe they were on a line outside the burn but the road turned and they just dropped a little long. I’ve been douched by a few retardant drops because they dropped a little too long and that was just a LAT (P2V with jet assist) back in the day. The greatest benefit of the retardant when burning out is to have it on the side of the line you are holding. But yeah it happens and it’s a dynamic environment.

  • @Bobbyd0052
    @Bobbyd0052 Місяць тому

    PRAYERS FROM MICHIGAN. PLEASE STAY SAFE ! 🇺🇸

  • @deloradeabel8487
    @deloradeabel8487 Місяць тому +5

    Thank God for our angels in yellow!

  • @dgsantafedave1
    @dgsantafedave1 Місяць тому +15

    Notice that none of the firefighters on the line are overweight!

    • @josephastier7421
      @josephastier7421 Місяць тому +3

      Or older than 40.

    • @Joseph-vf8op
      @Joseph-vf8op Місяць тому +4

      No shit they work hard

    • @BritishGreen70
      @BritishGreen70 Місяць тому +2

      @@Joseph-vf8op Yes, that's why it was clearly a compliment.

    • @Mrbfgray
      @Mrbfgray Місяць тому +1

      No Buffs allowed. If you know you know. HA!

    • @roseannarios7312
      @roseannarios7312 Місяць тому +1

      I've seen some a few significantly overweight firefighters in random videos and thought "how in the world are they even able to carry their gear let alone up stairs, ladders, etc...or perform proficiently in general?" Somehow they obviously pass their physicals but it's crazy.

  • @XAlpineSuptDN
    @XAlpineSuptDN Місяць тому +4

    There you go at 11:07 or so they put the retardant on the correct side of the road w/ that VLAT.

  • @XAlpineSuptDN
    @XAlpineSuptDN Місяць тому +6

    This is firefighting in a nutshell. Sucking smoke while holding a burnout.

    • @MarkGTLLC
      @MarkGTLLC Місяць тому

      Were you Sup of Alpine around '13-14? Don't remember which fire exactly but pretty sure we met on an SQF fire. I was night shift at ECC and inbriefed you guys cause nobody else was awake. 😂

    • @XAlpineSuptDN
      @XAlpineSuptDN Місяць тому +1

      @@MarkGTLLC No I was the Supt on the crew 1997 - 2007. There were 3 Supe’s after me. It might have been P. Cerda or J. Champ you briefed.

    • @MarkGTLLC
      @MarkGTLLC Місяць тому

      @XAlpineSuptDN copy so you would have worked alongside Horseshoe Bob at some point(s). What a kick in the @$$ that would have been - I started with the FS in 08, so just after you moved on and Bob "retired" and became the country's most famous dispatcher. 😎

  • @piknick111
    @piknick111 Місяць тому +2

    I had to chuckle at your thumbnail

  • @IonOtter
    @IonOtter 25 днів тому

    A small, light drone would be really useful in keeping watch for pop-ups behind the line. You wouldn't have to keep it up continuously, either. Just pop it up every so often to check for spot-fires beyond your line of sight.

  • @XAlpineSuptDN
    @XAlpineSuptDN Місяць тому +2

    Typically you’d like to have more prep done on that road too reducing ladder fuels and jackpots near the road to reduce spotting potential. Probably didn’t have time to do so.

  • @watchthe1369
    @watchthe1369 29 днів тому

    With all the fuel sitting out in that scrub, it was about the only way to get a barrier in place. The flame heights and ember that would have created would easily cross the road. Instead the draft from the approaching fire feeding on the air will pull the embers into it and the fire they are setting will follow the draft into the fire front. That will likely stop the fire at the road and burned space, if not it will at least slow it so some dozers can maybe get some line in.

  • @mikemontgomery1212
    @mikemontgomery1212 Місяць тому +1

    My old lady has turned me into a softy, now I think about the poor animals going through this shit too!!!!

  • @slackjawedyokel1
    @slackjawedyokel1 25 днів тому

    so is there a road or break to the right tying into the main fire ?

  • @patrickmcmahon7735
    @patrickmcmahon7735 9 днів тому

    where do i go to see the pics that was taken?

  • @XAlpineSuptDN
    @XAlpineSuptDN Місяць тому

    Only thing I can think of is that they are trying to buy the burnout more time to get good depth before getting hit by the head of the fire. Or it was a mistake. Or part of the road was actually over there and they dropped a little long. Those VLATs aren’t the most nimblest of ships.

  • @seanvyka2496
    @seanvyka2496 Місяць тому +1

    That's bad ass

  • @victorchairez7356
    @victorchairez7356 25 днів тому

    Its like a tornado you can hear it coming towards you 😨

  • @mikeforster8798
    @mikeforster8798 27 днів тому

    Firing out can work but it is risky for the reason that it can spot in places you don't want it to. And there are a lot of aspects that go into a burnout operation that most people don't know about.

  • @rd4660
    @rd4660 Місяць тому +2

    LOL, Phos-Chek on the GoPro lens. Yep, you were close, come to Jesus close.

  • @bayjay864
    @bayjay864 Місяць тому +2

    Serious question, what’s the point of a back fire and dropping flame retardant n the head of the fire?

    • @ry-guy_
      @ry-guy_ Місяць тому +1

      If it's where I think it is they are moving quick to tie this road in for a long direction and this is the only good spot to fight the fire and the fire expanded to 300k acres really fast so the head fire was likely moving way too fast to build depth.
      Ideally you do these burn ops days in advance but the fire is only like 5 days old or something at this point.

    • @Mrbfgray
      @Mrbfgray Місяць тому

      Likely an error. Everyone is asking.

    • @MarkGTLLC
      @MarkGTLLC Місяць тому

      ​@ry-guy_ were you on Horseshoe around 2008-12? I knew a RyGuy back then...

  • @timwalker5646
    @timwalker5646 24 дні тому

    when you are doing a back burn you start it 1 to 2 m outside the trail that way the fire stops at the trail but the front of it starts towards the main fire because they are drawing each other together. In the mean time the fire you started is burning all the fall before the main fire gets to it and puts it out basically. This firefighter has gone to far into start it up

  • @bobwilson4648
    @bobwilson4648 23 дні тому

    ever used a camera before??

  • @Mrbfgray
    @Mrbfgray Місяць тому +1

    Most nervous cammer in brief history of humanity but love the content!
    First fire obviously, best to be vigilant.

    • @norcalstormchasing
      @norcalstormchasing  Місяць тому +6

      Not nervous, as this isn’t my first rodeo at a fire. But constant vigilance/situational awareness is needed to: A) not get in the way of fire personnel, B) to not get myself in harms way, C) to look for spot fires as this fire has caused erratic fire behavior - Michael

    • @Mrbfgray
      @Mrbfgray Місяць тому +1

      @@norcalstormchasing Clearly out of your element, no one else there was acting like that. Big props for getting access and vid even if it made our heads spin. :D) Seriously--no one else 'got the shot', great fodder for conversation on this difficult problem. Keep up the good work!

    • @MarkGTLLC
      @MarkGTLLC Місяць тому +4

      ​@Mrbfgray You would be surprised how much movement a helmet GoPro catches.
      I've been in fire going on 20 years and I'm surprised how small of movement it catches.
      Also, "head on a swivel" is a thing and if you put GoPros on the other guys' heads, if they're doing what they're supposed to be doing as holding forces they would be looking around just as much.

  • @f0rumrr
    @f0rumrr Місяць тому

    They needed to fell those trees to make a back burn work, but looks to me they already over worked and dont have qualified tree faller.

  • @BritishGreen70
    @BritishGreen70 Місяць тому

    @norcalstormchasing Did you see any animals when you were out there? Did they run out of there, away from the fire?

    • @Gonefishing-hm3jv
      @Gonefishing-hm3jv Місяць тому

      Yeah I was a eagle, had to scram because of the smoke, fire 🔥 😅

    • @BritishGreen70
      @BritishGreen70 Місяць тому

      Does your mom know you're on the internet past your bedtime?

  • @ihab6984
    @ihab6984 Місяць тому +1

    why did they light a fire on purpose ?

    • @norcalstormchasing
      @norcalstormchasing  Місяць тому +10

      A backfire is a controlled fire set by firefighters in front of an active wildfire to consume fuel and change the direction of the fire. Backfires are often used as an indirect attack method to stop the spread of intense wildfires. The backfire is set along the downwind side of the fireline, and the main fire's natural draft pulls the backfire toward it.

    • @XAlpineSuptDN
      @XAlpineSuptDN Місяць тому +5

      It’s a common tactic w/ large fires that you can’t get up near the edge on to build line. This fire is creating a black line that that not only helps to hopefully stop the spread off the main fire but also creates a safety zone for crews working the line. Blackline or burnouts are often used. It’s a lot easier to burn from a road where you can have engines help hold the line than to try to build dozer line or hand line following all the fingers of the fire’s edge.

    • @ry-guy_
      @ry-guy_ Місяць тому +3

      @@ihab6984 another part of it is that the massive head fire can shoot embers for over a mile ahead of it that spread the fire more. That is what is happening where the fire fighters start seeing fires on the wrong side of the road.
      So by starting small fires at the road you hopefully consume enough fuel in a slightly controlled manner and "build depth" so that the head fire embers aren't landing behind you.

  • @jordanb3577
    @jordanb3577 Місяць тому

    Which date is this footage from?

    • @norcalstormchasing
      @norcalstormchasing  Місяць тому +4

      7/29/2024. Apologies for not having the date. Thank you for reminding me, it has been included into the description. It's been a long day... - Michael

    • @jordanb3577
      @jordanb3577 Місяць тому +3

      @norcalstormchasing thanks! No worries, it looks like it's been a long day out on the line! Great video too!

  • @Bayareafree22
    @Bayareafree22 Місяць тому +2

    The cause of this fire was a drunk man who drove his vehicle into a dry grassed area and started revving his vehicle.

  • @user-to2gh7sg3l
    @user-to2gh7sg3l Місяць тому +1

    Ummm.... I don't remember handguns casually being discharged in the air as any type of normal USDA Forestry Communication Protocal. But good work guys, ya'll are true heroes. For real.

    • @XAlpineSuptDN
      @XAlpineSuptDN Місяць тому

      @@user-to2gh7sg3l They might have been using a firing pistol that launches a flare further into what you are burning. They are quite common for adding depth to a burnout when you don’t necessarily want to have a firefighter wielding a torch deep in the burn. The firing pistol uses a .22 round to launch and light the flares that are being sent into the burnout.

    • @XAlpineSuptDN
      @XAlpineSuptDN Місяць тому +5

      @@user-to2gh7sg3l They are not handguns. They are firing pistols that use a .22 round to launch and simultaneously light the flare. They use the flare pistols to get more depth to their burnout without actually having to put someone deep inside the burnout. In this case especially w/ the encroaching main fire they want to add depth quick but not put someone between the burnout and the main fire.

    • @ry-guy_
      @ry-guy_ Місяць тому

      @@user-to2gh7sg3l to add to the other comment when there is more time to plan they are also using drones to drop burning ping pong balls on ridge tops to get as much backing fire as possible in areas that are 100% going to burn. Better to get good to medium fire instead of a ripping headfire straight up a hill.

  • @TNsher776
    @TNsher776 Місяць тому +1

    Crazy how much forest is being burnt! Alot of wildlife habitat destroyed

    • @Mrbfgray
      @Mrbfgray Місяць тому +2

      The result of half to a full century of bad management. The real destroyer is what allowed all this fuel build up and loss of scattered big fire resistant shading trees. Ideally these backfires would have been prescribed burns roughly November to April when conditions are right, but now they are forced to do it the expensive, much less forest friendly way in July.

    • @Mrbfgray
      @Mrbfgray Місяць тому +1

      This is the East side (or NE) where essentially all the damage is occurring, the West half is 100% ecologically beneficial, Forest Service wanted to burn that part for yrs but afraid to do it and knowing it would happen anyway, far less safe but also without their liability.

    • @TNsher776
      @TNsher776 Місяць тому +2

      @@Mrbfgray their chance to burn 🔥 forest

    • @Mrbfgray
      @Mrbfgray Місяць тому +1

      @@TNsher776 What?

    • @rd4660
      @rd4660 Місяць тому +1

      Yes and no. It's actually not destroyed, it's converted to another type of habitat. You'd be amazed at the signs of life that will be in this area next spring and the new growth over the next couple of decades. We humans want things to stay the same, Mother Nature has other plans. Just think what happened hundreds and thousands of years ago when a lightning strike started a fire and there were no firefighters. The wildfire burned until it burned out. The cycle of life.

  • @user-to2gh7sg3l
    @user-to2gh7sg3l Місяць тому +1

    I'm assuming the videographer has a chest cam or something and has a Pulaski in his hands.

  • @cbmathews0440
    @cbmathews0440 Місяць тому +1

    Chief would fire the gun himself 😂

  • @CaptainRon13
    @CaptainRon13 Місяць тому +4

    HEY, this is great content. It’s great for classroom training, and educating the public on what we do. But, please check your language . Otherwise, keep up the good work.

    • @BritishGreen70
      @BritishGreen70 Місяць тому +7

      Oh come on, they are guys doing hard, dangerous work out in the field. Who cares?

    • @Petalflipper
      @Petalflipper Місяць тому +7

      Bro nobody in training for this kind of thing is going to care about language, get real.

    • @jolarent3940
      @jolarent3940 Місяць тому +4

      in gemany it is normal language at hard work so we can use without peeep ;-) for training

    • @rd4660
      @rd4660 Місяць тому +4

      Kaptan Karen.

  • @OregonCrow
    @OregonCrow Місяць тому +1

    nothing to do with storm chasing

    • @Petalflipper
      @Petalflipper Місяць тому +4

      You can argue this is a firestorm.

  • @katguyot6351
    @katguyot6351 Місяць тому +1

    4th grade vocabulary is not very professional for a Chico State student.

  • @johnhamaker8441
    @johnhamaker8441 Місяць тому +3

    The backfire should have been set at the edge of the road !

    • @XAlpineSuptDN
      @XAlpineSuptDN Місяць тому +4

      They are just letting it back to the road rather than lighting right on the edge of the road.