Aircraft operations support in the service of fire and resource management. (National Interagency Fire Center/Fire Research And Management Exchange System)

Background: There are a number of powerful aerial fire control techniques to support ground control operations when needed, although most fires do not require aerial assistance. Aircraft used in fire operations include air tankers, lead planes, infrared reconnaissance planes, and helicopters.

• Air tankers are large planes equipped with tanks for transporting and dropping fire retardant (e.g., diammonium phosphate) or water in order to slow a fire down in support of fireline construction operations on the ground.  Air tankers are primarily used for initial attack and structure protection.
• Lead planes are smaller, mobile airplanes used to provide reconnaissance of burning areas from above and guide air tankers to desirable drop locations.
• Infrared reconnaissance planes are small airplanes equipped with specialized infrared mapping systems for detecting hot spots inside and outside a fire perimeter. Highly sensitive scanners are able to detect heat with a high degree of accuracy (6 inches spot from 8000 foot elevation).
• Helicopters provide cargo and personnel support for firefighters working a fire perimeter, and can slow a fire spread by dropping water, foam, or retardant on burning trees, shrubs, and structures. Helicopters are also valuable for conducting large scale firing operations on wild- and prescribed fires.