Aviation

By KEITH RIDLER Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Airport officials facing jet fuel shortages are concerned they’ll have to wave off planes and helicopters that drop fire retardants during what could be a ferocious wildfire season, potentially endangering surrounding communities. ...

WIKIEUP, Ariz. (AP) — Federal authorities on Sunday were at the scene of the crash of a small plane that killed two crew members responding to a wildfire in northwestern Arizona. Both people aboard the Beechcraft King Air C-90 aircraft ...

Firefighting aircraft return to work     BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Montana’s firefighting aircraft returned to duty Friday as officials sought even more personnel and aircraft ahead of a shift in the weather that could stir up a large blaze ...

Boeing Chinook helitankers already at work over Ventura County     By AMY TAXIN Associated Press LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. (AP) — Southern California fire agencies are getting two large-scale helicopters that can each carry up to 3,000 gallons (11.356 liters) ...

Smokejumpers head out to the Pilot Point Fire     BLM Alaska Alaska Smokejumpers loading up for the first fire jump of the 2021 Alaska fire season was caught on video on May 24, 2021. The 12 BLM Alaska Fire ...

Malibu site can now hold more water     MALIBU, Calif. (AP) — A water fill-up station in the mountains above Malibu is increasing capacity to handle larger firefighting helicopters that are being contracted to bolster Southern California fleets. The ...

Helicopter crashed during training in Leesburg     LEESBURG, Fla. (AP) — A firefighting helicopter with four people on board crashed Tuesday near an airport in central Florida, killing at least one person, officials said. The helicopter crashed into a ...

Burnover avoided in El Dorado County     Max McGregor Salmon Fire, El Dorado County At approximately 12:15 PM on Saturday, May 1, CalFire Amador-El Dorado Units responded to reports of a wildland fire in the area of Salmon Falls ...

Revenue from firefighting contracts made little profit     By PATTY NIEBERG Associated Press/Report for America DENVER (AP) — As Western states prepare for this year’s wildfire season, the world’s largest firefighting plane has been grounded and could be converted ...

Company in discussions with prospective buyers     By PATTY NIEBERG Associated Press/Report for America DENVER (AP) — The world’s largest firefighting plane has been shut down just as Western states prepare for a wildfire season that fire officials fear ...