Firefighter on ‘Super Scooper’

* As a wild-land firefighter who helped extinguish the recent blazes in Southern California, the side effects of the “Super Scooper” airplanes, which quickly load and drop 1,600 gallons of water on flames, are all too apparent.

Since these aircraft are fixed-wing, accuracy of water drops is a problem. For personnel like myself who work in close proximity to flames, this can mean over six tons of water crashing on our heads. Already, airplanes frequently drop slimy red fire retardant on crews. However, molecular formation holds this retardant together so it drifts from the sky, unlike the solid bulk of water slamming to the earth.

And while helicopters can also drop water on crews, their hovering abilities provide warning to both pilots and firefighters on the ground.

Before you give your blessing to the Super Scooper aircraft, imagine a single blow strong enough to knock you out. Or dead. Firefighters deserve praise for their heroic efforts to control flames, not a dangerous and massive tidal wave slam to the face. Besides pounding people, this much water could also cave in structures, especially ones weakened by flames. Please don’t endorse a product unless you are aware of its side effects.

PETE SPRINGER

Pollock Pines

* I fought in the fires of the Los Angeles area along with 79 others who made up four Yakima Indian Reservation wild-land firefighting crews from Washington state. As always, firefighting is hard work and dangerous. Fortunately, none of our crew members were hurt. Even though exhausted, at the end of the day many of us clustered around the bulletin boards and read copies of The Times. We craved information telling the progress made on other fires and appreciated the coverage by your reporters and photographers. This is not typical because most fires occur in remote areas and the local papers lack the ability to cover the stories as well as you did.

KENNETH E. SMITH

Yakima, Wash.

* I am a firefighter for the Los Angeles County Fire Department and was assigned to Strike Team 1107 in Malibu during the recent fires. I would like to take this time to thank all of the wonderful people. Many persons fed us at their own expense and offered us a place to rest when time permitted.

I would also like to thank the many businesses and corporations that donated food and other items.

To all of you, thank you and God bless.

DENNIS KING

Fire Station 6, Lomita

* To the people of Malibu and Altadena, I would like to express my appreciation, and the appreciation of the firefighters who worked on those fires.

Your overwhelming show of support was very moving in the face of adversity. People who had lost all their possessions still thanked us for doing the best that we could. Even while smoke was coming from their homes.

The strength of character shown by the people in the fire areas has convinced me they will rise above this disaster.

Thank you!

CAPT. GARY A. MEDDLES

Fire Station 11, Altadena