I just saw what looked like a rescue helicopter fly over my house and it had some kind of line or cable hanging down. Anyone know what's going on? 

Fire in JTNP. As of 45 minutes ago it's was 45 acres and on Quail Mountain and 4 air tankers in route first fire crews just got on scene and it is 0% contained and unknown which direction it is traveling either torwards yucca or 29. 

A Cal Fire helicopter has been scooping water from the water treatment plant below my house for the past hour. 

JTNP Fire news:

http://www.mydesert.com/article/20120812/NEWS01/120812014/Lightning-sparks-wildfire-Joshua-Tree-National-Park?odyssey=mod_sectionstories 

Latest JTNP Fire News:

Quail Fire