Look inside the DC-10 airtanker that gives firefighters the advantage against wildfires
Battling wildfires has airtankers taking off all day, almost every day from the Austin Airport. The local airtanker base was activated because almost 8,000 wildfires have scorched Texas so far this year. “This Very Large Airtanker (VLAT) is the only one stationed here in Texas,” said Jonathan Ross, manager of the Austin Airtanker Base. (Photo: Bettie Cross)
AUSTIN, Texas — Battling wildfires has air tankers taking off all day, almost every day from the Austin Airport. The local air tanker base was activated because almost 8,000 wildfires have scorched Texas so far this year.
“This Very Large Airtanker (VLAT) is the only one stationed here in Texas,” said Jonathan Ross, manager of the Austin Airtanker Base.
The DC-10 in Austin is one of four VLATs in the nation. It will remain in Texas as long as it’s needed here more than it’s needed somewhere else. The air tanker base was activated in Austin because Austin Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) is the only airport in the state setup for a Very Large Airtanker (VLAT) or DC-10.
The other air tanker base in Texas is in Abilene. Adding one in Austin is cutting wildfire response times in Central and East Texas.
“It takes the estimated time of arrival down from two and a half hours from Abilene to 30 minutes from here,” said Ross.
The DC-10 carries the retardant in a canoe-shaped tank on the plane’s belly. More than 9,000 gallons can be dropped within eight seconds along a one-mile path.
“We need the retardant to help the firefighters on the ground because the fires spread so quickly because of the drought. If you didn’t have them, it would take the firefighters a lot longer to put the fires out,” said Ross.
The retardant is so heavy, that the Texas A&M Forest Service doesn’t want to waste any of those pounds on seats, overhead bins, or any other items that normally outfit an aircraft. It’s why the DC-10 based at ABIA has been gutted.
“We take out all the weight to lighten the aircraft for aerial firefighting,” said Captain Matt Ringlein who has been at the controls of the air tanker for two years.
Ringlein makes the call on when to release the retardant.
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“There’s a lot of practice involved because you’re moving at 150 miles an hour and you’re a couple of hundred feet above the ground,” said Ringlein.
Air attacks are important in controlling the spread of wildfires, but the pilot considers what he does to be in support of firefighting efforts on the ground.
“A lot of the misnomers with aerial firefighting is that we’re there to put the fire out. We’re really kind of a secondary source to support the ground firefighters,” said Ringlein.
The Texas A&M Forest Service says ground forces are the front line of firefighting and they’re being stretched thin this summer.
“We have run over 7,000 wildfires this year in the State of Texas,” said Kari Hines, Firewise Coordinator for the Texas A&M Forest Service. ”Our firefighters across the state are seeing fires that are more resistant to control.”
The drought has vegetation burning faster and longer. Fire experts say a combined attack from the ground and the sky has the best chance of keeping a small fire from growing. So far this year 619,866 acres across Texas have been charred by wildfires.
“It’s the worst I’ve seen it since 2011, so it’s a very bad fire season,” said Ross.
The Texas A&M Forest Service says the approximate cost for the base equipment was $300,000. In addition, the cost of retardant that is dropped on fires is approximately $3.00 per gallon.
