Military Jet Hazard Cancels Air Drops on 1,400-Acre Fire

The U.S. Forest Service suspended aerial operations in combatting a 1,400-acre forest fire in the San Bernardino Mountains on Tuesday, saying that military jets were creating a hazard for firefighting helicopters and fixed-wing tankers in the area.

San Bernardino National Forest Supervisor Richard L. Stauber said low-flying military jets had penetrated the area in defiance of restrictions imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration for the fire still burning north of Lake Arrowhead.

“At 10:30 a.m.,” Stauber said, “Forest Service management and pilots collectively agreed to terminate air operations until contact could be made with the military through the FAA to confirm emergency airspace restrictions in the vicinity of the fire.

“Word came back this afternoon that airspace restrictions had been confirmed by the military. Shortly thereafter, the Forest Service initiated aerial operations, but military jets once more were observed flying low in the area and again Forest Service flight operations had to be terminated.

“Since that time, we have observed additional military aircraft in the area. We are working to resolve the problem, but until such time as the military operations are terminated, no more Forest Service flights can be made.”

A Forest Service spokesman said no one appeared to know where the jets had come from or to which service they were attached. “All I can say for sure is that they’re not civilian and not Russian,” Forest Service spokesman David Behrens said.

An FAA spokesman confirmed that emergency airspace restrictions were in effect in the fire area, but declined to speculate on where the jets might have come from. An Air Force spokesman said he could make no immediate comment on Stauber’s statement, and a Navy spokesman said he was sure no Navy aircraft were involved.

Meanwhile, however, the lack of aerial support did not prevent ground crews from cutting a full ring of containment around the fire, three miles north of Lake Arrowhead. About 1,000 men were still on the fire lines Tuesday, but Behrens said some crews will be released today.

Behrens said full control of the fire is expected by 6 p.m. today.