Sugar Pine Fire Helicopter Alternate Landing Site 2018

On 29 July, at approximately 1700 hours, a Type I Helicopter was tasked with a mission to provide water via a bucket to help control the fire edge on one of several fires in the area. The Type 1 Helicopter filled their bucket and waited for directions of where to drop. Within a few minutes, the fire was completely layered over in smoke. The helicopter pilots could not see the fire at all. The Pilot-in-Command therefore dumped the ship’s water and they headed back to the Helibase. Communication from the Helibase informed them that the airport was socked in with smoke and they couldn’t land there. What now?

The helicopter contacted ICP (communications) and notified the Air Operations Branch Director (AOBD) and the Deputy Incident Commander (who is also a Helicopter Manager) of their situation. The Deputy Incident Commander went out to the field to check for potential hazards prior to the landing. He then gave the pilot permission to land in the open field (100 acres in size) located northwest of the ICP. The helicopter pilots then notified the Helibase Manager what they were going to do. The landing was safely accomplished. The crew had supper and were taken to their hotel for the night. Their helicopter was in a safe location. It was periodically checked by IMT personnel throughout the night. The next morning, the pilots returned to ICP and flew the helicopter to the Helibase. They attended the morning aviation briefing and continued their assignments for the day.

RLS, Helicopters, Aviation, Helicopter Incident or Accident