NPR

In California, Air Tanker Pilots Help Keep Wildfires At Bay

As fires blaze across the state, California firefighters have called in some of the biggest air tankers for help. The giant jets are dumping a fire retardant, Phos-Chek, on the flames.
Tanker 914 is operated by the Albuquerque-based 10 Tanker. It's one of four DC-10 jumbo jets converted to fight fires. The huge planes are 181 feet long and have a wingspan of 165 feet. Fully loaded before making a drop, the aircraft can tip the scale at 420,000 pounds.

High winds are in the forecast this week for all of California as fires burn up and down the Golden State. Near the Bay Area, the Kincade Fire has charred over 100 square miles, destroyed more than 120 structures and forced thousands to evacuate in the state's famed wine country. To the south, firefighters in Los Angeles are battling a number of blazes, including the Getty Fire in the hills near UCLA. Helping

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