Limepoint Fire Brings New Aircraft to Council Airport
According to Lisa Wilkolak, the Public Information Officer for the Limepoint Fire, as of August 11th, Red Team Incident Command Team 3 was switched out, and Great Basin Incident Command Team 4 has taken their place.
She said that crews typically work fourteen days and then go elsewhere after required days of rest.
The three helicopters working on the Limepoint Fire had been stationed at the McCall Airport, but beginning this week, they are now stationed at the Council Airport. She said there are two K-MAX helicopters and one light helicopter.
Kathryn Hughes, Chairwoman of the Council Airport Commission, said the forest service and the City of Council have signed a land use agreement and since August 11th, three helicopters used on the Limepoint Fire have been moved from the McCall Airport to the Council Airport.
Ashley Scott, Council City Clerk, said the land use agreement stipulates that the forest service pay a $200 per day staging fee for use of the airport and also pay a twenty cents per gallon fuel flow charge. The helicopter pilots are independent contractors and bring their own fuel truck with them.
Scott said that in a separate agreement, the forest service is paying the City of Council one cent per gallon for potable water and ten dollars to dump a load of gray water.
Hughes said it’s fortunate that our community has the airport, for the McCall Airport was becoming too congested with planes and helicopters fighting fires near Donnelly.
Wilkolak said the helicopter crews are used to doing bucket work and also reconnaissance. She said they are also used to transport meals to the firefighters, most of whom are camped out in spike camp at Seven Devils Ranch.
She said there are currently 570 people working on the Limepoint and Cliff Mountain Fires. There are a total of 12 fire crews, four of which are Hotshot Teams, working on the fires.
She said that a plane equipped with infrared equipment was used after this week’s lightening storm to find any hot spots and to detect any new fires. Drones are also used for this task.
