BROOMFIELD, COLORADO (RFD News) — When wildfire smoke begins to rise, aircraft are often among the first tools used to respond.
The U.S. Forest Service is now testing a new approach called Operation Sky Hammer, designed to improve success during the early stages of a wildfire.
The effort combines two helitankers, a helicopter coordinator, and a mobile retardant base to create a highly mobile response team. The goal is to position these resources in high-risk areas and respond quickly to stop small fires before they grow.
Regional Aviation Officer Clark Hammond says the program is built on lessons learned from past fire seasons.
“There’s holes everywhere you look. That takes time, depending on where the resources are, to be able to fill that hole. That’s one reason we’re standing this project up, is to fill some of the gaps that we found within the region.”
The Forest Service currently contracts more than 600 aircraft to assist with wildfire response efforts.
Last year, more than 77,000 wildfires burned over five million acres across the United States.
