The Clear/Nez Zone has one of the busiest fire programs in the nation. Averaging 380 fires per season, firefighting resources are in high demand during the peak of fire season. The helicopter program is no exception to this demand. In 2006 the Musselshell helicopter, 6148U, flew 245 hours both on and off the zone and in 2007, 767H flew 217 hours.
The Musselshell Helitack crew is ready at all times for initial attack (IA), or to respond in support of initial attack or extended attack operations anywhere on the zone. In 2006, our crew staffed 27 initial attacks on the zone and worked in support of 35 additional wildfires. Twice that year, the helicopter and crew were sent to fires off zone; first to the Tiger Fire in Crown King, Arizona, and later to the Pine Ridge Complex in Hardin, Montana. It is common for the Clear/Nez zone to make available one of our two exclusive-use helicopters for off-forest fire assignments early in the season, usually on an alternating basis. In 2008 we were once again in Montana, this time on the Cascade Fire near Red Lodge and then sent to the Flathead National Forest near Kalispell. There we put our firefighters on three fires and supported numerous others. We were fortunate to be dispatched to a fire in Glacier National Park near St. Mary's Lake. This meant flying up the Going-to-the-Sun Road, one of America's most scenic roadways, over Logan Pass and down the other side to St. Mary's lake.
The standard daily helitack configuration includes a qualified exclusive use helicopter manager and two helicopter crewmembers/firefighters. The two crewmembers will include an ICT5 and a FALB at a minimum. Crewmembers will be equipped with tools, food, water, water filter and sleeping bag, adequate to be self sufficient for a 36-hour period. Personnel will, in most cases, work the fire until declaring it out, then hike to a road or landing site for pick up. When a second manager is available, the manager on board is available to function as ICT4 or to fill other specialized positions during more complex operations. Standard equipment on the aircraft will include personal initial attack gear, three hand tools, chainsaw with accessories, and Bambi Bucket.
A typical wildfire IA mission consists of flying to a fire, anywhere on the zone, and drop 2-3 helitack firefighters at a landing site as close to that fire as possible. The firefighters will work that fire until the IC declares it “out”. This can sometimes take several days, depending on fire size and complexity. The crew may also be called out in support of a district's wildfire suppression efforts. This involves flying to a pre-determined helibase or helispot and flying district personnel and equipment to/from a wildfire, water bucket support, cargo operations, reconnaissance flights, and/or helibase management. The crew may leave Musselshell on firefighting missions and not return for as long as 21 days; the helicopter may be gone indefinitely.
