Snorkeling Lake Balboa

Los Angeles County Fire Department primarily uses the Sikorsky S-70i Firehawk helicopters to fight wildfires, including Tuesday’s at Lake Balboa. These are advanced, specially modified versions of the UH-60 Black Hawk military helicopter.

Key features of the LA County Firehawk include:

  1. Water capacity: They can carry up to 1,000 gallons (3,785 liters) of water or fire retardant.
  2. Quick refill: They can refill their tanks in about 60 seconds using a retractable snorkel.
  3. Multirole capability: Besides firefighting, they’re equipped for rescue operations and can transport firefighters.
  4. Night flying ability: They’re equipped for nighttime operations, which is crucial for round-the-clock firefighting efforts.
  5. Speed: They can travel at speeds up to 160 mph, allowing for rapid response.

The process you’re witnessing is called “snorkeling” or “drafting.” The helicopter hovers low over the water surface, lowers a snorkel or pump, and fills its tank in a matter of seconds. This allows for rapid refilling and return to the fire site.

Lake Balboa, being a reliable water source in the San Fernando Valley, is frequently used for this purpose during wildfire events in the Los Angeles area. This strategy allows firefighters combat fires in urban or wildland-urban interface areas where traditional ground-based firefighting might be challenging.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Roads Are Awash


When Emmylou Harris recorded Leonard Cohen’s “Ballad of a Runaway Horse,” he wrote her this note:

“Dear Emmylou Harris,
Thank you for singing that song of mine.
You brought it to a place I could never get to.
And thank you for putting into the crowded air,
and establishing it there for all to feel,
the beauty, the dignity
and the loneliness of America itself.
In the midst of all the bewildering directions
your voice takes us home.
With deep gratitude,
Leonard Cohen” 

Keep on Shinin’

Lake Baikal, in eastern Siberia, Russia, is the oldest (20-25 million years) and deepest (5,315 feet) freshwater lake globally. It holds 20% of Earth’s freshwater. You can see objects 40 meters deep in its clear waters. In winter, it freezes into stunning turquoise ice shards, some towering up to 39 feet, due to heavy winds.