BELLVUE, Colo. (AP) —BELLVUE, Colo. (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service says it is adding more aircraft to its aerial firefighting fleet to help battle wildfires in the West. The U.S. Forest Service says it is adding more aircraft to its aerial firefighting fleet to help battle wildfires in the West.
BELLVUE, Colo. (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service says it is adding more aircraft to its aerial firefighting fleet to help battle wildfires in the West.
Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell said Monday the service is contracting one air tanker from the state of Alaska and four from Canada. Two more air tankers are being activated in California.
Tidwell says the temporary additions will make 17 air tankers available to the Forest Service.
The service has deployed 10 air tankers, 62 helicopters and 4,000 personnel to more than 100 fires nationwide, including large fires in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico.