Although fire season is really year-round in southern California, its “official” start is the beginning of May. By that time, the last of the winter rainstorms are a memory, and unless an unusual bit of precipitation passes by, a long, hot, and dry summer and fall has begun.
When the disastrous wildfires of 2003 hit, coordination between fire agencies was minimal. The 2007 wildfires found improvements in many areas, but the military, which had dozens of aerial assets available, outside of a couple of instances where helicopters did assist, was pretty much only able to be spectators to the carnage laying waste to vast stretches of open space and structures.
After those wildfires, Cal Fire, that U.S. Navy and U.S. Marines began talks to see if working together was feasible. And while no major wildfires occurred until 2014, the training continued. More and more squadrons trained together with Cal Fire. During the biggest fires in Southern California that year, over 40 military helicopters were in the air, working alongside Cal Fire helicopters and tankers. Helicopters from local agencies also joined in to fight fire from the air.
This year will include the largest and most trained group of military aviators ever. This has been accomplished by year-round training, on both the squadron level as well as with joint exercises with Cal Fire. Providing weather updates, standbys and call-ups is Cal Fire's responsibility, but enthusiasm is so high within Navy and Marine squadrons that they are actually calling Cal Fire with weather updates when fire danger is high, having already prepped their aircraft and attached Bambi Buckets.
Military assets can only be called into action when civilian assets are all committed. Until that time, they remain grounded. Once the call comes from Cal Fire, military helicopters can be airborne in as little as 30 minutes.
In 2014, the vast majority of Marine assets in the air were CH-46 Sea Knights, with several CH-53E Super Stallions tackling heavy lift missions. The Navy provided a number of Sea Hawk helicopters. The Sea Knights and Sea Hawks fielded 420-gallon Bambi Buckets, while the Super Stallions flew with a 900-gallon bucket. In 2015, the Marines retired the last of their CH-46 Sea Knights, which was replaced by the MV-22 Osprey. Initially, because of a huge rotor downwash and other factors, the use of the Osprey for firefighting was not deemed a real possibility.
On May 4, the Navy and Marines put on a demonstration of their aerial might, working alongside Cal Fire and San Diego Sheriff’s Office helicopters in conjunction with Camp Pendleton ground crews using brush rigs and bulldozers.
But as Marines do, they adapt and improvise, and the Osprey, equipped with a much longer bucket line then other helicopters, will join the fight when needed. The Marines will also be using the UH-1Y Venom as firefighting helicopter, along with Sea Knight. The bucket capacity for the Sea Hawks and Venoms will remain at 420 gallons, with the Super Stallions and Ospreys carrying 900 gallon buckets.
Should a massive set of wildfires strike again in Southern California, the sky will still be filled with smoke, but Navy and Marine aircraft will be creating a very large shadow as they work hand in hand with civilian agencies to quell the flames.
