DNR adds two water scooping aircraft to help battle wildfires this season

  • These planes – Air Tractor AT-802 models modified to scoop water for wildland firefighting – are flying for the DNR during the spring fire season.
    These planes – Air Tractor AT-802 models modified to scoop water for wildland firefighting – are flying for the DNR during the spring fire season.

    LANSING

    Two Fire Boss aircraft, each capable of scooping up to 800 gallons of water from a lake in just 15 seconds, have been added to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources firefighting fleet this season.

    The planes, leased from late April through early June – historically the worst part of Michigan’s fire season – are housed at the Gaylord Regional Airport. This central location is ideal to …