Several people gathered before sundown Wednesday June 12 to watch helicopter flights from the tank site just north of Morongon Casino, where pilots took on retardant and water to fight the 3,130-acre Hathaway Fire burning northeast of Banning in the San Gorgonio Wilderness.
Some people saluted to the pilots and remained at attention as the airships roared overhead toward the smoking fire in the distance, and one man shouted above the racket, "That's America baby!"
All firefighting operations, including helicopter reloads at the tank site, are expected to proceed unchanged when former President George W. Bush visits Morongo Casino on Thursday to speak during a private meeting of the Western Riverside Council of Governments, Forest Service spokesman Bob Poole said just before the Wednesday evening update on acreage and containment was distributed by fire commanders based at Noble Creek Park in Beaumont.
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