HENRY HAGG LAKE, Ore. (KOIN) — As another wildfire season ramps up in Oregon, firefighters continue to practice their responses from the ground and from the air.
On Tuesday, 60 Oregon firefighters trained on how to coordinate a water drop from the air to the ground using what is called a Fire Boss.
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“Fire Bosses is a trade name,” said Jamie Knight, an aviation operations specialist with the Oregon Department of Forestry . “They’re actually single engine scoopers. That is the aircraft itself.”
These air tankers can scoop up to 800 gallons of water, and dropping it on the right spot is “pretty satisfying,” said Aaron Vince, the chief pilot for Coastal Air Strike.
But to do that — drop 800 gallons on just the right spot — needs help from ground crew members.
“It feels really cool to talk to them,” said Wally Waible, a permanent forest officer for the ODF. “You feel like you’re really important talking to pilots because they’re up there doing such a dangerous and important job.”