How are crews using aerial support to fight New Mexico wildfires?
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – They’re one of the largest firefighting tanker planes in the world and have played a big part in supporting firefighters as they work to contain fires across the state. “Our primary mission is supplying fire retardant in support of the fire operations on the ground,” said Chris Niccoli, Chief Operating Officer for 10 Tanker Air Carrier.
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As thousands of acres burn in the Gila National Forest, crews are working around the clock to suppress the flames, and a key part of that effort is air support from 10 Tanker Air Carrier, and its fleet of retrofitted DC-10 airplanes.
“We’ve been running missions every day, in support of Trout, Buck,” said Niccoli. “Also, Seven Springs, down to that way, and so there hasn’t been a day since it started that we haven’t been supporting the operations there, and firefighters there.”
The planes have been supporting crews for about a week now. Their goal? Drop thousands of tons of flame retardant to put out the flames. According to Niccoli, a plane can get fueled up and take off from Albuquerque in as little as thirty minutes. The air carrier has four planes assisting with the various fires across New Mexico.
“Our pilots come on, usually around 9 o’clock, and then usually wait for an order that might come on,” Niccoli said.
The airplane company said pilots and mechanics work 12 days on, 12 days off. The team also works closely with ground crews to determine if aerial support is needed and how much retardant needs to be dropped. They added that the type of fuel burning in the fire determines how big an area the plane can dump chemicals on.
Fuel, such as big trees, typically take more coverage compared to smaller shrubs or plants. “We can, in our light coverages, we can take retardant as up to as far as a mile with this particular aircraft, just because we have a lot of volume,” Niccoli added.
They said they will continue their efforts until the fires are contained.
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