Rainier Heli-International Uses Kaman Helo Under A Forest Service Contract

Containment of a major wildfire in California’s Sequoia National Forest was accomplished with the help of Kirkland, WA-based Rainier Heli-International using a  a company-owned and operated Kaman K-MAX cargo helicopter. The blaze, named the Bull Fire after it began on July 26, consumed nearly 16,500 acres of national forest lands by the Kern River northeast of Bakersfield.

Rainier Heli-International Photo

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention, known as CAL FIRE, assigned hundreds of ground-based fire fighters to the southern California area before the fire was contained in early August.

Rainier’s K-MAX, flying under a U.S. Forest Service (USFS) contract from Kern Valley Airport, utilized its unique heavy lift capability and proprietary 700-gallon water tank and snorkeling system to drop hundreds of tons of water on the flames, assisting ground crews to contain the wildfire in about a week.

According to Richard “Lash” Larew, Rainier’s executive vice president, the aircraft, which is currently based in Casitas, CA, near Ventura, flies exclusively each year for the USFS from July to December, peak fire season in the western U.S. “We’re on call 24/7, and completed the equivalent of an average month of flight hours in a week on the California fire,” said Larew. “The USFS directs us to locations to handle initial attacks, and we fly up to seven or eight hours a day in some cases.”

Rainier vice president Steve Wright added that the helo has an excellent readiness record. “The USFS classifies the K-MAX as a heavy lift, or Type I, helicopter. Our availability is nearly 100 percent, and unlike other heavy-lift rotorcraft, our maintenance costs are much lower. We usually operate with one pilot, one mechanic and one fuel truck driver,” Wright explained. “The K-MAX features a simple design and very reliable single engine, optimized for repetitive heavy lift. It exactly fits the mission profile the USFS needs for effective aerial fire-fighting.”

Rainier Heli-International Photo

Larew said Rainier purchased its K-MAX, Aircraft No. 19, more than a decade ago and initially used the helicopter to supplement its logging operations. “We were one of the original purchasers after the K-MAX was certified in the mid-1990s. We considered other uses for the K-MAX and moved into fire-fighting. Our USFS contract is full-service, and includes the aircraft and crew. To win the USFS contract, we designed our own water tank and snorkel system that enables us to fill the tank in one minute from lakes, rivers, streams or portable water tanks when natural sources aren’t available.” Rainier’s proprietary K-MAX tank system utilizes water but can accommodate fire retardants or other additives.

FMI: www.fs.fed.us