An air fleet has increased the chances of combating the Siphon Fire, which continues to burn in the Superstition Mountains.
The fire, which ignited Tuesday at about 1 p.m., has burned 15,786 acres with 0% containment as of Friday afternoon.
The rugged terrain has made it challenging for ground crews to access much of the affected area.
“Super Scooper Planes” Deployed to Combat Siphon Fire
The deployment of “super scoopers” brought hope for containment, according to several social media posts from officials, including Pinal County Government and the USDA Tonto National Forest Service.
The USDA Forest Service expressed appreciation for the “super scooper planes,” which began actively combating the Siphon Fire late Friday.
The “super scooper,” or CL 415 plane, is highly effective at extinguishing fires, capable of carrying and dropping 1,400 to 1,600 gallons of water on a fire within minutes.
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According to the USDA Forest Service, the plane’s water tank can be refilled in approximately 12 seconds.