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Fighting Fire From The Air
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- Aviation Program Overview (84K PDF)
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- Use of DC-10 Airtanker
CAL FIRE's Use of DC-10 Airtanker
Since 2006, CAL FIRE has used a modified DC-10 airtanker to help battle the state's wildfires. The aircraft was first used by CAL FIRE in July of 2006, when it was activated to help battle the Sawtooth Fire in San Bernardino County.
The DC-10 Airtanker is able drop as much as 12,000 gallons of retardeant in as little as eight seconds. The aircraft uses a computerized gravity-feed water dump system that is essentially a modified and scaled-up version of the system used by Erickson Air-Crane on its S64 helicopter. The drop rate, controlled from the cockpit, is governed by the opening of the tank doors.
THE DC-10 airtanker does not have the maneuverability of CAL FIRE's S-2T tankers but, it is more suitable for larger-scale drops. The S-2T tanker holds 1,200 gallons of water or retardant and is better suited for tighter surgical drops.