N949CH

     This Boeing CH-47D Chinook has been assisting with the Rattlesnake Wildfire for the past few days coming to Springerville Municipal Airport to refuel and/or load up on fire retardant(?). I lucked out today in that I heard it come in to land but I did not have a good lens on the camera to capture it - so I put a long lens on the camera and waited. This is the result as it flew very much closer to the house on the outward flight. Information about the aircraft (owned by Heligroup Fire Llc, Missoula, MT) can be gleaned from a simple search.

21 April 2018
Rattlesnake fire

Total Personnel
537
Size
14,992 Acres
Percent of Perimeter Contained
25%
Fuels Involved
Timber (Litter and Understory), short grass (1 foot) heavy logging slash.
Significant Events
Today's gradual warming and drying trend increased fire activity in the southwest portion of the fire and allowed firing operations to continue along the northeast perimeter. Aerial resources were utilized to slow fire spread towards the southern perimeter

       The Jews in the Time of Jesus is proving to be an engrossing read.