Homeowner films DC-10 retardant drop on his house

This was on the Liberty Fire December 7 east of Murrieta, California.


(UPDATED September 14, 2018)

The photos below from Flashover.com (referred to in the comments below) show the results of a low drop by a DC-10 on the Liberty Fire, December 7, 2017. They were taken by Jenny Crane.

DC-10 low retardant drop
The result of a low drop by a DC-10, Liberty Fire, 2017.
DC-10 low retardant drop
The result of a low drop by a DC-10, Liberty Fire, 2017.

 

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15 thoughts on “Homeowner films DC-10 retardant drop on his house”

  1. The red glaring color is a commercial rust, iron oxide. Is the product (Phos Chek) currently being used through the U.S. have the properties of loosing the pigmented (red) within a week or two, also referred to as a fugitive dye? I wonder if this guy had a swimming pool? House standing, clean-up should be well on its way, if not complete.

  2. “conjecture at best”

    Why Anonymous? If all drops were perfect, we would all still be in the Garden of Eden. Armchair quarterbacking is conjecture at it’s finest.

  3. Discussing whether or not the owner feels the appropriate level of appreciation for the drop or whether or not the house would’ve burned to the ground in the absence of the drop is conjecture at best. You know what’s a fact? That drop was too low. It blew out all of the front windows, tossed furniture around inside the house, and blew tiles off the roof. There was retardant caked on the inside kitchen ceiling. I’m happy the guy filming the event was in a protected spot (shadow) rather than behind shards of flying glass and busted furniture. I understand that low/early drops happen, but to watch this video and say things like, “be grateful it wasn’t napalm” is absurd. Call a spade a spade: this was a poorly executed drop, not something we strive for as professional pilots and not something worthy of praise.

    1. Is there another video of it? In this all the windows are intact, the roof fine, just a temp wash-off red. It looked like the house was at the edge of the target of the drop – high-wind-driven flames already just below the retaining wall – to protect the firefighters and house. The homeowner was laughing at all of it, relieved, it sounds like.

      1. Not trying to beat a dead horse, but there are plenty of photos that show the aftermath of the drop. Perhaps Mr Gabbert will post a few of them here for our collective enlightenment.

        1. That’s OK. Just rather stunned that with the fire blasting up the guy’s retaining wall on three sides and by the way the palm trees were bending over in the wind that he was still at his house and not already long gone in his truck driving out of there. If the facts were that he’d been trapped, then that drop saved his life.

  4. I hope he thanks the pilot for saving his house, truck and RV, instead of whining about the color. I broken truck window is nothing compared to a home that’s been burned to the ground.

  5. The home owner may have just received a save for his property, and while he’s laughing about it, he seems to comment that he just got a new paint job and new roof; hopefully his comments reflect the new color, rather than the thinking that this is a ticket to have the government buy him new things. In all my years of dropping retardant, I’ve heard one solitary thank you when I’ve painted a house during an active fire. I’ve heard a lot of threats to sue over colored cattle, fences, cars, buildings, etc…and one thanks. I’d hope that this owner realizes how fortunate he is.

    1. ive been hit several times over the years,,all came from hoser in 89 btw,,and i thanked him in person everytime,he saved myself and the crew everytime..each of them we were just minutes from being over run by the fire….

      1. You may want to rethink and review your engagement of a evolving threatening wildfires or any type fire. Remember the moth to a candle incident. Don’t be the moth.

  6. As a student of chemicals for forest fires use since 1964 I like the consistency and boldness of this retardant. It hasn’t always been that chemically simple. Notice the palm tree blowing. The retardant move horizontally somewhat but hit the target.(sort of) “lets make that same run and move to the right one wing span. Or everything will wash off and nothing unburns.

  7. I hope the home owner appreciates he still has a house and his Insurance will handle any work after he pays his deductible.

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