Wyoming is experiencing high fire danger this week, with Red Flag Warnings issued for parts of eastern Wyoming, including Converse, Niobrara, Goshen, Platte, and Laramie counties. The strong winds and dry air are not helping to relieve drought conditions in some areas.
Firefighting Efforts
Several large fires are active across the state, including the Sandpiper, Raven Creek, and Rochelle 2 fires. Firefighters are using various aircraft, including Very Large Airtankers (VLATs), to drop fire retardant and water on the fires. The U.S. Forest Service is responsible for managing the VLAT contracts.
The Casper/Natrona County International Airport has become a hub for firefighting efforts, with a new base for Single Engine Air Tankers (SEAT) and Large Air Tankers (LAT). The airport has been posting photos and videos of the firefighting planes on its Facebook page.
The Air Tractor, a small plane originally designed for crop dusting, has been adapted for firefighting and can drop up to 800 gallons of water on fires. The U.S. Air Force has recently ordered these planes for low attack and surveillance.
Original reporting: K2 Radio (Casper) — read the source article.
