How California fights fires from the skies
Firefighters have been battling some of the most destructive fires in Los Angeles history in recent days. The massive wildfires menacing the city from the east and west have turned entire neighborhoods to ash.
Numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout California are flying fire suppression missions as conditions allow, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
The specially equipped aircraft can steer or contain a fire’s perimeter, helping fire crews on the ground. We show here the types of aircraft available, from specially converted passenger jets to aircraft that can scoop water from a lake, and their specific roles.
Cal Fire has its own fleet of aircraft operating from 14 airfields and 11 helicopter bases across the state that can reach most fires within about 20 minutes. The three main components of the fleet are tactical planes, airtankers and helicopters. All have specific roles but work together as a unit to combat fires.
According to Cal Fire’s website, the fleet’s more than 60 planes and helicopters make it the largest department-owned fleet of aerial firefighting equipment in the world. But if extra resources are needed, the department hires additional planes on a contract basis and in extreme conditions, it can request help from the military.
