Photos of air tankers at JEFFCO airport used on the Chatridge 2 Fire near Denver

Shane Hervey shot these photos yesterday, June 29, at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (Jeffco) near Denver while air tankers were working the Chatridge 2 Fire south of the city. The fire spread rapidly with strong winds and was stopped after burning 461 acres.

Tanker 22, a P-3 (N922AU), had just arrived in Colorado on June 27 to begin an exclusive use contract with the state. It was at Northern Colorado Regional Airport at Fort Collins when it was dispatched, then reloaded at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (Jeffco).

Shane Hervey said he saw a total of six large air tankers and two single engine air tankers at JEFFCO yesterday.

Vince Welbaum, the Aviation Unit Chief for the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, said the tanker will be primarily based at the Northern Colorado Regional Airport but will move to other bases as needed. The airport has a BlazeTamer fire retardant loading system, rather than more commonly seen Phos-Chek retardant system. BlazeTamer appears clear or white when dropped, as opposed to Phos-Chek which is red. Mr. Welbaum said they anticipate that when dispatched to a fire the tanker will take off with BlazeTamer and then reload with retardant at other bases. Videos shot at the Chatridge 2 Fire yesterday showed it dropping both types of retardant.

Mr. Welbaum explained that the U.S. Forest Service has not established a cooperative agreement with Colorado to enable the P-3 to be used on federal fires. Without the agreement in place, it can only be used by the feds if lives are threatened.

More information about the fire is at Wildfire Today.

Thanks Shane!

Excellentwork #Chatridge2Fire pic.twitter.com/VkTwiqtwmf

— Blake W (@BlakeTannedfeet) June 29, 2020

Excellent on air attack #Chatridge2Fire pic.twitter.com/FDCKx0eo6m

— Blake W (@BlakeTannedfeet) June 29, 2020

Impressive array of #fireaviation resources deployed against #chatridge2fire in south metro #Denver Mon. #Copter4 shows @SouthMetroPIO & #cofire crews stopped advance of flames feet from homes while bracketing the with retardant lines. ~461 acres. No injuries or structures lost. pic.twitter.com/KAqoOrepz7

— Rob McClure ?? (@RobCBS4) June 30, 2020

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Author: Bill Gabbert
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