Latest news with #SuperScooper
Los Angeles Times
7 days ago
- Climate
- Los Angeles Times
At least four firefighters injured while battling Northern California wildfires
At least four firefighters have been injured over the last week while battling three wildfires in Northern California forests that are burning amid extreme heat in steep, bone-dry terrain, fire officials said Monday. One firefighter combating the barely-contained Green fire in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest sustained a blunt-force trauma wound while working on the fire line on Saturday, said Deanna Younger, a spokeswoman for California Interagency Management Team 10, the incident command team overseeing the fire response. Another firefighter suffered a heat-related injury on Sunday, she said. Both were treated at a hospital and released. Two firefighters fighting the Orleans Complex — two blazes burning in Del Norte and Siskiyou counties — also were stricken with heat illness amid temperatures that have topped 110 degrees in recent days, said Paul Meznarich, a spokesman for the multi-agency team coordinating the response to those fires. 'Everyone is very mindful of the heat effects,' Meznarich said. 'All things considered, everyone has been managing the heat well.' For those fighting the blazes — which, combined, have charred nearly 20,000 acres of forest since July 1 — the conditions have been extremely challenging, fire officials said. The remote areas are steep, thickly-forested and bone-dry. 'It is very, very dry right now, and we're still around 100 degrees,' Younger said of the Green fire region on Monday morning. 'We are not getting good humidity recovery at night. The Green fire — burning on the eastern side of Shasta Lake near the Pit River between Interstate 5 and Highway 299 — was sparked by lightning the evening of July 1, according to the U.S. Forest Service. It had burned 11,643 acres and was 5% contained as of Monday afternoon. On July 1 and 2, the Shasta-Trinity National Forest saw more than 3,100 lightning strikes, which sparked more than two dozen fires, most of which were small and quickly extinguished by firefighters who had been 'positioned throughout the forest in anticipation of wildfires caused by lightning strikes,' according to the Forest Service. 'The Forest Service was able to catch all of them except this one,' Younger said of the Green fire. 'That's because this one was so inaccessible.' Firefighters are gaining access to some areas that are unreachable by vehicle or foot by taking boats to more accessible areas and climbing in with their gear, Younger said. Fighting the blaze by air, she added, has been complicated because there is a thick tree canopy, and water cannot reach the fire burning in vegetation close to the ground. Planes also have not been able to fly amid heavy smoke, fire officials said. More than 1,400 firefighters were assigned to the blaze as of Monday. Two so-called Super Scooper airplanes — each of which can hold 1,600 gallons of water — arrived from Canada on Sunday, according to the Forest Service. The Super Scoopers, which require a mile of open water to refill their onboard tanks, are expected to use multiple arms of Shasta Lake, which fills with recreational boaters during the peak summer tourist season. 'The physics involved in the contest between a fully loaded plane and recreational watercraft are unfortunate at best,' the Forest Service said in a statement asking boaters to avoid areas where firefighting aircraft were operating. To the west, two fires — the Butler and Red fires — were being managed by the same incident command team as the so-called Orleans Complex fire. The Butler fire, which was reported amid a lightning storm July 3, had burned roughly 8,156 acres in the Six Rivers and Klamath national forests and was completely uncontained as of Monday afternoon, Maznarich said. The fire was burning between the tiny towns of Orleans and Forks of Salmon, the latter of which was under an evacuation warning on Monday. It was burning within the 2024 Boise Fire, the 2020 Salmon Fire, and the 2013 Butler Fire footprints, according to the Forest Service. Firefighters, some patrolling on boats, were working to keep the fire from jumping the Salmon River because areas east of it had not recently burned and had more dense vegetation, Maznarich said. The 116-acre Red fire, which was 50% contained, was burning in the Siskiyou Wilderness in Del Norte County, Maznarich said. It started July 6.
Fast Company
08-07-2025
- Fast Company
Texas flood recovery efforts face an unexpected obstacle: drones
The flash floods that have devastated Texas are already a difficult crisis to manage. More than 100 people are confirmed dead after the July 4 deluge, and many more remain missing. But while recovery efforts are underway, Texas authorities are grappling with a compounding challenge: civilian drone operators interfering with emergency response. Amateur pilots are either trying to capture dramatic footage of the disaster or, in some cases, attempting to locate missing or stranded people themselves. That's not just unhelpful—it's dangerous. 'We know that people want to volunteer, but what we are starting to see is personal drones flying,' Kerrville city manager Dalton Rice said at a recent press conference. Rice discouraged these have-a-go heroes with drones. 'These personal drones flying is a danger to aircraft, which then risks further operations,' he added. What might seem like good intentions from above is, in practice, making things worse on the ground. 'Particularly with emergency response, people think that they're doing good, when, in reality, they're causing more harm than good,' says Ryan Wallace, a professor and drone expert at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. This isn't a new problem. In January 2025, a drone collided with one of two Super Scooper amphibious aircraft fighting the Los Angeles wildfires. The collision forced the aircraft to land and be decommissioned, instantly halving the region's firefighting capacity. 'It's a sad reality that people have been flying drones over disaster zones without permission ever since the technology came into widespread use over a decade ago,' says Arthur Holland Michel, a drone expert and author of Eyes in the Sky. The growing availability of consumer drones over the past decade has worsened the issue. 'As drones became less expensive in the 2010s, more people had them for unregulated recreational use or professional photography,' explains Robin Murphy, professor emeritus at Texas A&M University. She recalls how, during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, officials had to call the sheriff to stop a civilian trying to film flood footage to sell to the news, just so official drone teams could gather time-sensitive emergency data. Between 2015 and 2025, there have been 190 recorded instances of unmanned aircraft system (UAS) incursions, conflicts, or airspace intrusions that interfered with wildfire and U.S. Forest Service operations, according to Wallace. Despite repeated education campaigns, the message isn't sinking in. 'Aviation authorities have tried again and again to educate drone users about the very real risks of interfering with rescue efforts and disaster relief, but it just doesn't seem to get through to some people,' Wallace says. While technical and legal options exist to disable unauthorized drones, the burden often falls on responders, who should be focused on saving lives and not policing airspace. The comparison, Murphy notes, is stark: 'It's like a civilian walking up to a SWAT team commander during an active shooter event and offering to help cover off an angle because they have a gun permit. There are so many problems with this,' she says. 'The person doesn't have radios, doesn't know the parlance, isn't trained in SWAT, there are procedures for joining an agency, the agency would be liable for this person's actions, and so on. Same thing with self-deploying drones.' Low-flying civilian drones also pose a collision risk to helicopters operating just above the ground to aid trapped residents. In crowded and chaotic airspace, the presence of rogue drones can quite literally turn deadly. Even when drone pilots aren't disrupting emergency aircraft, their contributions often can't be used. 'The emergency managers usually can't use the data because it is not verified,' says Murphy. 'For example, agencies can't accept a report from a person claiming to be a civil engineer they have never met and without credentials who says a building is about to collapse; the agencies have a process for obtaining data according to accountability standards.' The file formats from commercial drones also don't always align with agency tools. One colleague, Murphy recalls, spent 40 hours converting well-meaning footage from a civilian into a usable format after a fire. 'What is disturbing to me personally is the lack of enforcement or consequences,' she adds. 'The agencies are in a no-win situation and can't do it; if they come down hard on self-deployed teams—assuming they had time during a response.' As for why early warnings didn't prevent more loss of life during the Texas floods, some observers point to recent staffing cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which may have led to the early retirement of a key local meteorologist. The forecasting question may take time to answer, but the drone problem is already making itself known.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bridger Aerospace Shares Insights on Executive Order to Reshape Wildland Firefighting
Significant Increase to DOI's Fiscal 2026 Budget Request further Prioritizes Preparedness and Rapid Response BELGRADE, Mont., June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. ('Bridger', 'the Company' or 'Bridger Aerospace'), (NASDAQ: BAER, BAERW), one of the nation's largest aerial firefighting companies, today commented on the Executive Order to restructure our national wildland firefighting system. Sam Davis, Bridger's Chief Executive Officer stated, 'Bridger was established with a mission of saving lives, property, and the environment from wildfires and we stand ready to support our federal and state customers as we seek to integrate the Order to enhance preparedness, respond more rapidly and save property and lives.' The Executive Order prioritizes the immediate suppression of wildfires to protect communities and critical infrastructure. Included in the Executive Order is the establishment of a National Wildland Firefighting Task Force that will span all federal agencies, ease administrative burdens and refocus our national efforts on preparedness and aggressive Wildfire Suppression. The Executive Order comes on the heels of the May 20, 2025 letter from the Chief of the US Forest Service to Regional Foresters, Station Directors, Deputy Chiefs and Washington Office Directors, which reiterated the need for direct attack wildfire mitigation. This letter states that the Forest Service will 'focus on safe, aggressive initial attack,' and that 'It is critical that we suppress fires as swiftly as possible to minimize the amount of fireline exposure and be ready for the next ignition. This means employing direct attack tactics when and where feasible to minimize fire size and time to containment when safe and practicable to do so.' The U.S. Department of the Interior also recently issued its fiscal year 2026 budget for the new U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS) which calls for a more than three-fold increase in funding to $3.70 billion, as well as a Wildfire Suppression Operations Reserve Fund budget of $2.85 billion, for a total of $6.55 billion. The Budget request includes $1.39 billion for Suppression Operations compared to just $383,657 in each of the last two years. Mr. Davis added, 'This executive order marks a significant change in how we approach and fight wildfires as a country. The intent of the Executive Order is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of wildland fire management operations, streamline procurement processes, and establish year-round readiness requirements. This commitment, on top of the 2026 budget for the new USWFS, will have a significant positive impact on the entire wildland fire community. Bridger commands a significant Air Attack fleet, including modern fire imaging and surveillance aircraft, and the world's largest private Super Scooper fleet, and we are ready to do whatever is needed to support our state and federal customers.' This Executive Order was released in advance of a summer predicted by the National Weather Service to be above average with a probability ranging from 33-70% across the entire contiguous US and most of Alaska. This follows an intense start to the year with fires ranging from Los Angeles, California to Ocean County, New Jersey contributing to just over 1 million acres burned nationally by wildfire to date. The fires in Los Angeles alone caused an estimate of greater than $250 billion in damage. The full Executive Order can be viewed here: and the May 20, 2025 US Forest Service Letter is available at The U.S. Department of the Interior 2026 budget can be found at About Bridger Aerospace Based in Belgrade, Montana, Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. is one of the nation's largest aerial firefighting companies. Bridger provides aerial firefighting and wildfire management services to federal and state government agencies, including the United States Forest Service, across the nation, as well as internationally. More information about Bridger Aerospace is available at Investor ContactsAlison ZieglerDarrow Associates201-220-2678aziegler@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Canaccord Genuity Hikes Bridger Aerospace (BAER) Price Target on New Financial Strategy
Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:BAER)'s bid to reduce its outstanding debt and bolster financial standing has caught the attention of analysts on Wall Street. On May 27, Canaccord Genuity analysts increased the stock's price target to $5.25 from $5 while maintaining a Buy rating. The revised target reflects substantial growth potential from the current price of $1.37. A shot of a prototype aircraft taking to the skies, the symbol of the companies innovation in aerospace & defense. The Buy rating comes on the company inking an agreement to sell and lease back its headquarters at the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. The $46 million the company will generate from the sale will help reduce the $202 million outstanding debt. The sale and debt settlement is part of Bridger Aerospace's financial management strategy. The transaction is also expected to lead to cash savings for the business. Bridger Aerospace expects net cash savings of about $1 million. That's partly because the annual interest expense stands at $4.5 million compared to a new yearly rent of $3.5 million on leasing the property. The bullish stance also comes on Bridger Aerospace delivering robust sales growth in Q1 2025. Revenue in the quarter was up 184% year-over-year to $15.6 million. The company has secured a $20.1 million five-year contract with the US Department of Interior. Consequently, it expects its full-year revenue to range between $105 million and $111 million. Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. specializes in aerial wildfire surveillance, suppression, and relief across the U.S. It operates Viking CL-415EAF (Super Scooper) aircraft for rapid water drops and Air Attack planes for real-time fire intelligence and coordination. The company also provides maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, offering upgrades and modifications for Spanish scoopers and other aircraft used in firefighting efforts. While we acknowledge the potential of Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:BAER) as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than BAER and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
22-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Bridger Aerospace Secures Record 120 Day Task Orders for Four of its Super Scoopers
BELGRADE, Mont., May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. ('Bridger', 'the Company' or 'Bridger Aerospace'), (NASDAQ: BAER, BAERW), one of the nation's largest aerial firefighting companies, today announced that is has received two separate 120 day task orders from the US Forest Service, each for two of its CL-415EAF 'Super Scooper' aircraft. These procurements are noteworthy in that they were received early in the wildfire year and are for a record 120 days each. 'These task orders recognize the Super Scoopers as one of the most effective tools in responding to wildfires as well as the Forest Service's growing willingness to pre-position assets in order to more rapidly respond, helping to limit damage and better protect lives and property from this increasingly year-round threat,' commented Sam Davis, Bridger's Chief Executive Officer. 'Securing these longer-term task orders also demonstrates the success of our strategy to have our fleet available and ready year-round to increase the visibility and predictability of our revenue.' Davis added, 'Two Scoopers are currently operating on a Task Order in Minnesota. The next Scooper Task Order start date is pending. The last two Super Scoopers will remain on a 'call when needed' basis.' About Bridger Aerospace Based in Belgrade, Montana, Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. is one of the nation's largest aerial firefighting companies. Bridger provides aerial firefighting and wildfire management services to federal and state government agencies, including the United States Forest Service, across the nation, as well as internationally. More information about Bridger Aerospace is available at Investor Contacts Alison Ziegler Darrow Associates 201-220-2678 [email protected]
