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Thank You2030 viewsSigns of appreciation, like this one at the top of Lake Avenue, were popping up all over the place. Whether it was here at the entrance to the Sam Merrill Trail, or on someone's wall or fence, homemade signs thanking the Firefighters and First Responders were visible everywhere.
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Pyrocumulus2001 viewsWhile I'm not sure this word exists in a Dictionary, it is used commonly used when talking about fires or volcanic eruptions. It is caused by the hot air and smoke combining with the moisture which induces a convection which carries the smoke and ash up to altitudes of 20,000 feet or more.
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Smokey Sunset1867 viewsNow this would have been a beautiful sunset if it wasn't for the circumstances. The phrase "red sky at night, sailors delight" does not apply here.
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Air Assault At Sundown1839 viewsThe Air Show went on late into the afternoon. Here, a P-2 Neptune comes out of the Arroyo after a Retardant drop.
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Skycrane2003 viewsThe Sikorsky "Skycrane" was originally designed for the military. It has interchangeable pods for a variety of uses. We were particularly interested in the water tank pod today. It can hold 2,650 Gallons of water and you see it here, dumping all 2,650 Gallons on the fire as it moves up Sunset Ridge.
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Firehawk2321 viewsThe Sikorsky S-70 "Firehawk" is the civilian version of the U.S. Army's popular Blackhawk Helicopter. This Firehawk from L.A. County Fire can carry 1,000 Gallons of water.
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K-Max2073 viewsThe Karman "K-Max" Type 1 Heavy Lift Helicopter. Called the "Air Tractor", I call this the Gooney Bird because it looks and sounds funny. It has two opposing rotors on top and no tail rotor. It can carry 700 Gallons of water.

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Firehawk Drop2391 viewsL.A. County Firehawk makes a drop along Sunset Ridge.
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DC-102409 viewsThe McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is classified as a "Very Large Air Tanker" by Cal-Fire. Ya think !

Originally delivered as a civil passenger plane, the DC-10 can carry a whopping 12,000 Gallons of Fire Retardant. It can drop it's load in 8 seconds in a line 300 feet wide and one mile long!
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Air Show2177 viewsThats what they call the Aerial Assault on the fires. And Saturday was the "Air Show" in Altadena. Aircraft of all types and sizes were brought in. It was a photographers dream, but a homeowners nightmare.

Here, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10 makes a retardant drop over Brown Mountain. Can you imagine diving a Jumbo Jet through the canyons of the San Gabriel Mountains? It was incredible.
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Orion2410 viewsThe Lockheed P-3 Orion, was originally developed in 1959 during the Cold War as a Maritime Patrol Aircraft. Converted to an Aerial Tanker, it can carry 3,000 Gallons of Fire Retardant.
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Too Close To Home2561 viewsSaturday Evening, 9:07 PM, the Fire races up Brown Mountain. It was very intense. Those of us who stayed Despite Mandatory Evacuation Orders stood and watched.
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