You get a lot of ash when you're a half mile away, and downwind.

And planes like flying into the wind, especially when the're at tree top level. I had many passes of them right over my house. Nothing like a LOT of water to put a fire out.

I've seen a couple of fires, but none with winds this strong, and them directly up wind.

My closest was several hours after the local danger was out and it flared up. But they were watching and the sky was dark with smoke and super scoopers. Everything near me is out now, but the wind is still blowing, and I havent seen my firemen neighbors in a while.