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Wildland Fire Safety

Lead plane Bravo 7 leads an airtanker  retardant drop. Photo by Kari Greer
 

The Forest Service uses tools in the air to manage fire on the ground.

 

Planes and helicopters are critical tools in managing wildland fire. Although aircraft are often used to fight wildfires, aircraft alone cannot put them out. Firefighters rely on planes and helicopters to:

  • Deliver equipment and supplies.
  • Deploy smokejumpers and rappellers to a fire.
  • Transport firefighters.
  • Provide reconnaissance of new fires, fire locations, and fire behavior.
  • Drop fire retardant or water to slow down a fire so firefighters can contain it.
  • Ignite prescribed fires

Features:

Helicopters

Airplanes

Photo of three airplanes.  A large airtanker, Smokejumper airacraft, and an infrared aircraft

The Forest Service uses planes of all types and sizes—not just airtankers— to manage wildland fire.


Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems (MAFFS)




MAFFS provides support when additional airtankers are needed.

 

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