Press Releases « 10 Tanker Air Carrier
Press Releases « 10 Tanker Air Carrier 10 Tanker was dispatched Sunday to support firefighters on the Motor Fire burning near Yosemite. On Saturday 10 Tanker had nine successful aerial drops on the fire near Saint Gorge, Utah and Sunday was sent to support the Motor Fire with five aerial drops. 10 Tanker is currently holding at McClellan until further orders. Basic Information Incident Type: Wildfire Cause: Motor Home Fire Date of Origin: Thursday August 25th, 2011 approx. 12:30 PM Location: Merced River Canyon Incident Commander: David Cooper Current Situation Total Personnel 818 Size 4,755 acres Percent Contained 35% Estimated Containment Date Friday September 09th, 2011 approx. 12:00 AM Fuels Involved 6, Pine and brush. Fire Behavior Active fire continues to move east into Moss Canyon. Low to moderate fire activity on the west flank of the fire; some roll out across the containment line produced an area of active fire on the norht west side of the fire. South of the Merced River showed little to moderate activity throughout the day. Significant Events Mandatory evacuations: Rancheria, Cedar Lodge, Incline, El Portal Trailer Village and local Merced River Canyon Campgrounds. Mandatory Road Closures: Highway 140, from the Foresta Bridge west is closed, Incline Road, and Forest Rd 1S12. There is no estimation as to when the will re-open. Old El Portal is advised to prepare for evacuations, this is a pre-evacuation. Outlook Planned Actions Crews continue to construct line on the east side of the fire. The use of a DC-10 airtanker supported this operation, crews will reinforce retardant lines. Growth Potential Significant Terrain Difficulty The fire is terrain driven in very steep canyon slopes, and has burned to the top of the ridges above the Merced River on both sides of the canyon. Remarks DC-10 was used to support direct line efforts on the west side of the fire, good progress was made with Type one hand crews during the operational period. Local Law enforcement recommend procationary measures. Stay away from Hwy 140 heading to Yosemite National Park. Big Bear City Board of Directors Approves Letter to Governor A letter to be signed by Big Bear City Fire Chief Jeff Willis and the CSD board was approved requesting Governor Jerry Brown to reconsider the decision not to renew the 10 Tanker Air Carrier, LLC contract based in Victorville, Calif., that provides fire protection services to California. 10 TANKER AIR CARRIER DEPLOYS TWO MODIFIED DC-10 AERIAL FIREFIGHTING AIRCRAFT ON MASSIVE NORTH AMERICAN WILDFIRES. 10 Tanker Air Carrier, a provider of DC-10 aircraft with special capabilities to drop fire suppressant on wild fires, has received urgent requests from firefighting agencies early in the 2011 fire season. In May and early June, 10 Tanker has been tasked by the US Forest Service and the Province of Alberta, Canada to provide DC-10 Airtankers, each capable of dropping more suppressant in a single load than any aircraft in service. The US Forest Service and the Province of Alberta Canada have independently tasked 10 Tanker to provide DC-10s, which carry 11,600 U.S. gallons (44,000 liters) at jet speed to the fire, significantly enhancing the fire agencies' ability to contain fires threatening property and livelihoods. The US Forest Service dispatched a 10 Tanker aircraft in May to Texas, and a DC-10 is currently flying missions on the fires in Arizona. In Canada, a DC-10 is flying multiple missions on a massive fire in northern Alberta. The modified DC-10 brings improved capabilities and technology to the nation's aerial firefighting arsenal. Developed by 10 Tanker with private capital over four years of design, manufacture, testing, and certification, the DC-10 was first placed in fire service by California in 2006. After a successful "trial year" on a "call when needed" contract, the DC-10 has been contracted for "exclusive use" by California every year since, insuring it's availability on a one-half hour call-up, and providing an unprecedented level of protection and cost effectiveness against California's notorious mountain wildfires. Now in it's sixth year of fire operations, 10 Tanker has flown over 365 missions in California, Washington, Australia, and now Texas, Canada, and Arizona. Fire incident commanders and attack supervisors who have used the DC-10 regard it's capacity, jet speed, rapid turnaround, and constant-flow delivery system as a significant step-up in capability whenever retardant is called for in large quantities to contain wildfires. 10 Tanker has the operational and financial strength to grow it's fleet of newer technology large Airtankers to meet future federal requirements as agency-contracted fleets are upgraded through competitively bid contracts. Working closely with state