Bigfork native Ryan Gembala flying the big bird on wildfires

Bigfork native Ryan Gembala has been part the firefighting effort in Northwest Montana, attacking fires from above.

Last week the black, red and white CH-47 helicopter that Gembala is flying was on standby at Glacier Park International Airport. The massive twin-engine helicopter belongs to Billings Flying Service, a company that has been contracted to help fight fires. Gembala, who grew up in Bigfork, joined Billings Flying Service two years ago. “I love this company,” Gembala said. “It couldn’t be better.”

The 22-year-old rode in a helicopter for the first time when he was 15, and he’s been hooked ever since. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do is just fly helicopters for a living,” Gembala said.

He’s been clocking hours in helicopters since he was 19, when he got his private pilot’s license.

He’s the third generation of Gembalas to take to the sky. His grandfather got his helicopter license at 68, and his father, Randy Gembala, flies helicopters and small airplanes. With his instructors license though, Gemabla has the most ratings out of the three.  In an interview with the Bigfork Eagle last year, Gembala said, “I kind of want to take it to higher levels.”

Part of the reason Gembala chose flying as a career is the lifestyle.  “The experience is more of the biggest part for me,” he said. “It’s definitely a good lifestyle. I’m really happy I chose it.”

Gembala normally works on the back-end crew and as a construction hand for Billings Flying Service.

Now on the Kalispell tarmac, he said that it’s nice to work in the valley.

Coming off of work in Idaho and, earlier Glacier Park’s Reynolds Creek Fire, the CH-47 was headed to the Thompson Fire in Glacier. Billings Flying Service contracts with the U.S. Forest Service and is dispatched on a when needed basis, company pilot Jesse Naiman said.

Naiman described the CH-47 as an old military bird. He said that the stability and maneuverability of the twin-prop helicopter is superior to the more commonly used heavy-lift helicopter, the Skycrane.

“As far as firefighting helis go, there’s nothing that comes close any more,” Naiman said.

The helicopter carries a water bucket that can hold as much as 2,500 gallons of water, coming in at about 20,000 pounds.

— Sally Finneran and Matt Hudson reported for this article.