31BH Helicopter pressed into service in Kentucky

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Sunday,April 22nd 2007

Personnel from the Cumberland district of the Daniel Boone National Forest took action on a fire threating Forest Service land in Rowan County,Kentucky (Hidden Acres) near Cave Run Lake.Two structures were damaged however several others in the area were saved.

A 31BH flew 4.4 hours and dropped 4,410 gallons in support of fire supperssion.The helicopter dropped water within feet of structures as ground crews burned out.

Structural firefighters from Morehead,Farmers and Route 377 support burnout operations with type six engine crews.Kentucky Division of forestry,Northeast District constructed control lines using hand and dozer crews. Morehead-Rowan County EMS provided EMS standby operations.

Good job Guys!

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35 acres scorched

By Kim Hamilton - News Editor

Up to 35 acres of forest in the Cave Run Lake area were scorched when a forest fire tore through Pretty Ridge Sunday, firefighters said.

Firefighters were dispatched at approximately 4:30 p.m. to KY 1274 to respond to a forest fire.

Morehead firefighter Dale Mabry said assistant fire chief John Northcutt was first on the scene, but he had to work hard to locate the fire due to its remote area and its difficult access, which was found about four miles from KY 1274.

In the meantime, more fire crews arrived and the fire was found at the end of Ellington Cemetery Road, Mabry said.

“When we found it, that put the fire in the area of Poppin’ Rock Boat Dock,” Mabry said.

Due to the blaze being in a remote area, the fire grew from about seven acres to about 35 acres, he said.

There were no injuries, but one tractor trailer’s box loaded with lumber was burned as well as an out building, Mabry said. He added that one house caught fire in the process, but the blaze was quickly extinguished.

Response came from six Morehead Fire Department trucks and 12 firefighters; two Farmers Fire Department trucks; one Route 377 truck, state forestry firefighters and federal firefighters. Rowan EMS was also on the scene.

After about 5 and one-half hours, firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control and left the scene at about 10 p.m.

Investigation is still pending on the cause of the forest fire.

[RxFire]

A 31BH flew 4.4 hours and dropped 4,410 gallons in support of fire supperssion.The helicopter dropped water within feet of structures as ground crews burned out.

31BH is the last 4 of the tail number. From the R8 Mob Guide (http://gacc.nifc.gov/sacc/administrative/forms_references/SA_Mob_Guide/Chapter80.pdf) I found that this is a Eurocopter AS-350B owned by Brainerd Helicopters.

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31BH is the last 4 of the tail number. From the R8 Mob Guide (http://gacc.nifc.gov/sacc/administrative/forms_references/SA_Mob_Guide/Chapter80.pdf) I found that this is a Eurocopter AS-350B owned by Brainerd Helicopters.



Thanks for the information.