C-130 down!

[Super11XP]

It just came over the local Fire Dept. radio that a C-130 has crashed while fighting the White Draw fire near Edgemont SD. There isn't much info as of yet but it sounded like at least one person surveved. We can all hope and pray for the best. It's going to be a tough year for fires as dry as it has been here.

[Ruffair]

Bad news.
How bad you burning there in Edgemont?

[Super11XP]

We are east of Edgemont about 25 miles, so we are somewhat removed from the fire there. We have only gotten about 3 inches of rain since last September. It was just crazy how much rain we got last summer. Then the rain just turned off. There was a T-storm that went through here, I'm guessung that probably had something to do with the accident.

[Tadpole]

Only news I've found yet, http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/pla...1cb3fe5e5.html

[OLDCROWE]

We were just in the Black Hills for a little R&R, leaving the cub at Custer a week ago (Sunday) just after the fire helo departed. We had a blast as we traveled about Custer State Park and the National Forest and up to Deawood but we blasted off early Wednesday afternoon because of the new fires and heavy smoke that was quickly getting worse and we were concerned about getting caught under a TFR.

Very sad for the area and especially the 130 crew. Conditions were still green but just with quite dry air and incredible abouts of beetle kill timber standing despite significant logging of dead timber, lt looked very dangerous. Interesting that the article talks about moving the fire commander from the Sheridan Lake area because as of tuesday when we stopped at the lake there was no fire in that area.

[benflyn]

Fire status link, kinda of long list.

http://inciweb.org/

[slowmover]

Came out today that 4 of them died in the crash. They left 9 kids and 4 wives behind. One was a buddy of mine. We were stationed together in Arkansas.

RIP brothers.

[RanchPilot]

Ugh. Words are inadequate to thank them for their service and ultimate sacrifice. Condolences to all involved.

[wefly4u]

Report I received from Usfs said lead plane ahead of tanker encountered a severe downdraft just before tanker went in. I flew fire patrol on Monday following this accident and there was soo much smoke over the entire southern black hills that you could hardly see. Yesterday the northern hills was shrouded in smoke all day and my truck was covered in ash when I went to leave last night. My prayers go out to the families of these guardsmen.

Happy Independance day to all!

Ray