ConAir Skimmers in Kamloops (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

2024 WILDFIRE SEASON

A welcomed slow start to 2024 for the BC Wildfire Service aviation unit in Kamloops

Jun 14, 2024 | 5:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s been a slower start to the wildfire season than years past for the BC Wildfire Service’s (BCWS) aviation division.

There are 106 active wildfires burning across the province with no current wildfires of note. Of those fires, only 11 are currently listed as out of control.

The BC Wildfire ConAir skimmer unit was deployed to its base camp in Kamloops on May 13. In the month since the skimmers were put on call, they’ve remained on stand-by, yet to fly an official mission, but the crews are practicing and ready to respond in a moment’s notice.

“It’s definitely a team up there. We put a lot of our faith in the bird dog pilot and air attack officer to keep us all separated but also close enough together. We definitely help each other out with risk assessments. If we see tall trees or a tower or have a difficult push over a ridge, everybody advises everybody else just to keep people save,” said Fire Boss Pilot Rod Turnbull.

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The skimmers work in teams of six, able to take a scoop of water in 10 seconds, often able to act on a fire 20-plus times before needing to refuel. The act of dumping the water itself requires the pilots to keep the nose pointed down.

“Definitely counterintuitive. You have to give it nose down pressure just to maintain level flight because you are basically losing half your plane’s weight in under a second. Definitely takes you for a ride if you aren’t ready for it,” said Turnbull.

Along with the skimmers, ConAir flies two RJ-Tankers out of Kamloops that dump retardant. Helping control the scene in the air and direct traffic to the fire is the bird dog, flown by a two-person team of pilot and air attack officer.

“The air attack officer and I will work up a plan together and we will figure out if it’s feasible for us to do a run, safety-wise,” said Bird Dog Pilot Mike Podealuk. “We will find out the exits, the start points, the altitude to drop at. And then (the skimmers) will show up and we will either show them or pick them up in formation and do the run.”

The bird dog can circle the fire for up to six hours before returning to base. While his third year has been quiet for Turnbull, 2023 was a challenge as fires burned homes across the region.

“Last year was probably the most challenging — not from the flying perspective but just so many fires and, sadly, so many homes that were lost,” said Turnbull. “That was a bit challenging when you come home at the end of the day and you know you didn’t quite get it done out there.”

Without missions, the pilots are required to train every seven days, including Friday (June 14) as they simulated a wildfire attack in Bonaparte, to hone their skills and be prepared for days like those last August on Adams Lake.