A friend with property in the line of the current fire (Coffeepot Fire) called on Tuesday to say that fixed wing aircraft were dipping water out of Lake Kaweah. Trail Guy said, “Do you mean helicopters?”
Friend said, “No, fixed wings”.
Trail Guy told me, and I said, “Do you mean helicopters?”
He said, “No, fixed wings”.
I said, “Let’s go see!”
So, we did.
We weren’t sure where to stop around the lake and tried a few turnouts, eventually picking a road down to the water. Trail Guy felt certain they’d be dipping from closer to the inlet than the dam, and since he was driving, that’s the viewpoint we chose. (He is usually right about those types of things.)
We sat on the tailgate waiting and watching.
Almost immediately, 2 planes arrived. I circled one in red so you can pick it out here.
Almost exactly ten minutes later, they returned.
We sure do know how to have a good time around here.
P.S. This is how the fire looked from LookOut Point yesterday afternoon: 3123 acres with 915 personnel. They could have stopped it at 1 acre!!!