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Join Telegram ChannelIN OUR 630 HALF HOUR, WE HEAR FROM A LOCAL MAN WHO HAS BEEN HELPING FIGHT WILDFIRES OUT WEST. GINO RUTOWSKI NOW WORKS FOR WESTERN PILOT SERVICE OUT OF ARIZONA. HE HELPS KEEP THINGS RUNNING SMOOTHLY FOR FOR AS A PILOT AS THEY’RE PROVIDING AIR SUPPORT DURING THOSE FIRES. I WOULD SAY IT’S EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE, UM, WITHOUT THE SUPPORT FROM THE AIRCRAFT, IT MAKES THE FIREFIGHTERS ON THE GROUND JOB BASICALLY NEAR TO IMPOSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SAVING STRUCTURES, PEOPLE’S HOMES, MAKING SURE THAT FIRE DOESN’T REACH TO, YOU KNOW, BUSY HIGHWAYS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO HE’S CURRENTLY IN ARIZONA WAITING FOR HIS NEXT CALL, WHICH COULD LIKELY BE SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THE FIRES YOU’RE SEEING IN THIS VIDEO FROM OUT WEST. LAST MONTH. HE SAYS. WHEN THAT CALL COMES IN, HE AND HIS PILOT, NATHAN, WILL HAVE TO ACT QUICKLY. THESE FIRES GET SO OUT OF CONTROL, SO FAST WITH THE WIND AND STUFF THAT’S OUT HERE, IT’S WITHIN 30 MINUTES YOU’LL HAVE A FIRE THAT STARTED 50 ACRES UP TO ALREADY 3000 JUST FROM WIND. HE WILL KEEP US POSTED ON HIS WORK O
Pittsburgh man responding to western wildfires through aerial firefighting operation
Local man responding to western wildfires through aerial firefighting operation
Updated: 12:07 PM EDT Aug 5, 2024
A Pittsburgh man has been helping to fight wildfires out west through an aerial firefighting service.Geno Rutkowski, a Mount Lebanon native, works for Western Pilot Service, out of Arizona. He works as part of a 2-person team, offering ground support for his pilot as they fly over the fires dispersing flame retardant.Rutkowski said the goal is to buy fire crews more time.“I would say it’s extremely, extremely important because, without the support from the aircraft, it makes the firefighters on the ground’s job basically near to possible, especially when it comes to saving structures, people’s homes, making sure the fire doesn’t reach the, you know, busy highways and stuff like that,” Rutkowski said. Rutkowski is currently in Arizona waiting for his next call. He said when that call happens, he and his pilot Nathan will have to act fast.“These fires get so out of control so fast with the wind and stuff that’s out here, it’s within 30 minutes you’ll have a fire that started 50 acres up to already 3,000, just from wind,” Rutkowski said.Western Pilot Service is headquartered in the Pheonix area and works with government partners to respond to wildfires at a moment’s notice.Rutkowski is a graduate of Mount Lebanon High School.
A Pittsburgh man has been helping to fight wildfires out west through an aerial firefighting service.
Geno Rutkowski, a Mount Lebanon native, works for Western Pilot Service, out of Arizona. He works as part of a 2-person team, offering ground support for his pilot as they fly over the fires dispersing flame retardant.
Rutkowski said the goal is to buy fire crews more time.
“I would say it’s extremely, extremely important because, without the support from the aircraft, it makes the firefighters on the ground’s job basically near to possible, especially when it comes to saving structures, people’s homes, making sure the fire doesn’t reach the, you know, busy highways and stuff like that,” Rutkowski said.
Rutkowski is currently in Arizona waiting for his next call. He said when that call happens, he and his pilot Nathan will have to act fast.
“These fires get so out of control so fast with the wind and stuff that’s out here, it’s within 30 minutes you’ll have a fire that started 50 acres up to already 3,000, just from wind,” Rutkowski said.
Western Pilot Service is headquartered in the Pheonix area and works with government partners to respond to wildfires at a moment’s notice.
Rutkowski is a graduate of Mount Lebanon High School.
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