Air tankers mobilized to fight fire

Air tankers were a vital resource in combating the Cache Mountain fire.

Air tankers are playing a vital role in fighting the Cache Mountain fire west of Black Butte Ranch.

With the fire gaining the top spot on the national priority list, eight tankers were stationed at Redmond Airport to make retardant drops on spot fires from embers along the perimeter of the main blaze.

The planes carry a red slurry consisting of clay, water, and fertilizer that smothers flames and sticks to trees and brush, making them much more resistant to fire ignition.

Sisters contractor and pilot Bruce Merrell watched tanker crews load retardant. Each plane holds between 2,000 and 5,000 gallons.

"The clay gives (the slurry) its color," Merrell said. "It also helps hold the mix together, and helps it stick where it is dropped."

Bob Sandman, Incident Commander with the Northwest Rockies Incident Management Team, has used tankers heavily.

"If we see a spot fire, we need to paint it red," he told firefighters on Sunday, July 29.

Although there were tankers on scene when the fire ran Sunday afternoon, the firestorm was too intense for the retardant to stop the conflagration.

However, the tankers have continued to stop small spot fires from growing.

Merrell, who flew over the Cache Mountain fire early Monday evening, reported that there were four tankers constantly on the scene.

"The pilots are flying the maximum eight hour shift allowed by FAR rules," Merrell said.

The tankers also "pre-treated" areas along and outside the perimeter of the fire. Laying a band of retardant helps slow spot fire ignition, allowing ground crews to get to the scene and put the blaze out.

The slurry retains its retardant effect for up to eight hours, creating an effective temporary barrier against spotting.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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