There are 45 photographs so it may take a few seconds to download. The fire was on the east side of Pine along the Mogollon Rim. I followed the Dripping Springs Trail up to the fire line. The fire started at the upper springs when a horseback rider who was camping lost control of a camp fire. When the helicopters would go over my head a light rain would fall from the water buckets cooling me off.

The view of the fire from highway 87 in Pine

Helicopter water drop with a bambi bucket

Helicopter water drop with a bambi bucket

Approaching the fire's edge

I didn't get a shot of the airplane dropping the slurry because I was too busy trying to get out from underneath of the drop.

Firefighters getting ready to start a new fire break line.

Firefighters working on a fire break line.

The fire actually started further up the hill but some of the burning logs rolled down.

Firefighters working on a fire break line.

Burning tree

Closer view of the burning tree

The sky-crane helicopter heading back for more water

Firefighter's mascot hanging on a bush

Looking down at the lower Dripping Springs the fire started higher up near the upper Dripping Springs.

Looking down towards Pine with slurry in the trees

The sky-crane helicopter heading into the fire for a drop

The sky-crane helicopter disappearing into the smoke from the fire

Helicopter going overhead with a bambi bucket full of water

The water dripping from the bambi bucket gave me a little soaking that cooled me off

The sky-crane helicopter heading into the fire for another drop

You can just barely see the sky-crane helicopter in the center of the photograph

The sky-crane helicopter nearing the temporary watering hole

Slurry bomber flying overhead

The slurry bomber flying behind a peak getting ready for a drop

The slurry bomber flying behind a peak getting ready for a drop

Disappearing slurry bomber trick

The sky-crane helicopter coming back with a full load of water

Helicopter with bambi bucket heading in for a drop

Helicopter with bambi bucket making a drop

The sky-crane helicopter drawing water from the storage tank

The sky-crane helicopter drawing water from the storage tank

Helicopter with bambi bucket drawing water from the storage tank

Close up of the helicopter pilot

Heads up you're going to get wet again

View of the fire and slurry drop from the other side of Pine

It was mostly a ground fire so there wasn't much crowning in the ponderosa pine trees

Gila County Sheriff's mobile communications command center just down the road from our house

A view from the Bradshaw meadow on the other side of Pine