Support growing for Night Fighting in the Wildland

Southern California nighttime aerial wildland firefighting may increase.

SAN DIEGO (CFN) – Tuesday, The San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a recommendation leading toward increasing the availability and use of aircraft for nightime wildland fire fighting, But for the flights to begin before wildfire season peaks in Fall more will be needed.

After Dark Thirty: Currently there are three Fire agencies in California that fight wildland fire at night: Los Angeles City and County fire departments, and City of San Diego, which is expected to take delivery of Copter 2 in August.

Cal Fire, responsible for incident command at the majority of California wildfires, and the U.S. Forest Service have long grounded aircraft firefighting operations after dark for safety reasons.

These safety policies drew heavy criticism after the 2003 Cedar Fire and 2007 October firestorm.

Following Tuesday's board vote, Cal Fire's aviation chief, Deputy Chief Bill Payne, promised City-owned helicopters – Copter 1 and Copter 2 – would be fighting wildland fire by October.
For that to happen, Cal Fire and the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department need to reach an agreement, something officials from both sides called a mere formality.

Cal Fire and the county sheriff's aviation unit will determine the costs of after dark wildland firefighting operations aside from the city of San Diego's.
Neither agency flies the type of twin-engine helicopter San Diego firefighters use to drop water during nighttime firefighting operations.

“Helicopters alone don't put out fires, but if lives are at risk and infrastructure is threatened, then it's a reasonable risk,” Payne said. “Flying at night can help.”
San Diego Fire Chief Tracy Jarman agrees.

“I couldn't believe the news,” she said. “I want to thank the board for their action and Cal Fire for their willingness to make night drops, which is good for the citizens of the entire region.”

The U.S. Forest Service hasn't agreed to lift its ban, but the county directive seeks change on that front, too.

Safety first no property is worth a life.

Nighttime firefighting operations are also very dangerous – to pilots and their crews, and to firefighters and civilians on the ground, with the reduced visibility and safety issues such as collisions between aircraft, obstacles such as towers and trees, misplaced load drops, etc.

Flight safety considerations become paramount to the actual task of firefighting.

Technology such as Night-vision goggles help light up the fire ground, but with a price of reduced depth and color perception .

A misplaced water drop could destroy equipment, property, and kill anyone on the ground, or a in flight collision....

Photo credit: LA County Fire - Link