In this article, as out-of-control wildfires threatened thousands of Los Angeles residents earlier this month, the companies that fight infernos from the air raced to send their air tankers and water bombers to the area, even though it was supposed to be the off-season. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, has more than 60 fixed-wing and rotor-wing firefighting aircraft, which it calls the largest civil fleet of its kind.
The federal government, U.S. states, and countries from Australia to Chile to South Korea hire companies that have their own private fleets of specially outfitted aircraft to help tame fires. Joel Kerley, CEO of 10 Tanker Air Carrier, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, mentioned that he was fortunate to have two aircraft available to help fight the flames. The company has a fleet of four converted DC-10 aircraft, known as very large air tankers, or VLATs.
The wildfire season in the U.S. typically runs from April to about November, during which companies like 10 Tanker are under round-the-clock contracts with the U.S. Forest Service. In 2023, the U.S. Forest Service extended a 10-year contract worth as much as $7.2 billion to 10 Tanker and four other providers. Outside of those months, providers are generally on a call-when-needed basis, with demand for their services increasing year-round.
According to the United Nations Environment Program, wildfires are expected to become more prevalent and severe in the 21st century. The United States Environmental Protection Agency noted that data suggests the area destroyed by wildfires in the U.S. has increased over the last two decades. Kerley emphasized that there is a shortage of air tankers available for firefighting efforts.
Countries like Australia, which have faced severe wildfires in recent years, are building up their own fleets of firefighting aircraft. Kerley mentioned that these countries will need to expand their fleets or companies like his will have to grow to meet the rising demand. The Palisades and Eaton fires were particularly challenging to fight, fueled by hurricane-force winds and causing significant destruction in California.
As of Friday, both fires were largely contained, but companies like 10 Tanker remained on call as the Hughes fire spread rapidly north of Los Angeles, leading to new evacuations. Despite the off-season for wildfires in Los Angeles, some of 10 Tanker’s aircraft were undergoing routine maintenance at the start of the battle. Similarly, other companies like Bridger Aerospace were also facing challenges due to heavy winter maintenance on their aircraft.
Aero Air, another provider of air tankers, sent some of its MD-87s to assist with the Los Angeles fires. Converting a jet into a tanker for firefighting purposes can take about a year and a half, involving significant modifications to the aircraft. Specially trained pilots drop water or fire retardant from the air to support ground firefighters, with the fire retardant typically being dropped in front of fires to block the flames’ path.
The article also discusses the challenges faced by aerial firefighting pilots, who come from diverse backgrounds, including military and commercial aviation. The fierce Santa Ana winds in early January exacerbated the spread of the Los Angeles-area fires and hindered some planes from conducting aerial missions. Despite the age of the aircraft used for firefighting, demand for these services is expected to increase due to climate change impacts.
De Havilland Aircraft, based in Canada, produces water scoopers like those used by Bridger Aerospace, which can scoop up water from nearby bodies of water to fight fires. The company is developing a new generation of the aircraft, the DHC-515, to address modern challenges and improve operational capabilities. With the impact of climate change, the demand for firefighting aircraft is projected to rise, eliminating the traditional off-season for wildfires.
