Deployment of Bridger Super Scoopers to Minnesota and How Scoopers Fly Wildfires

Direct link to video from WCCO - CBS Minnesota on YouTube 

When U.S. State Wildfire Agencies want to use more aerial resources to fight wildfires, they may request that the U.S. Forest Service send some of their contracted aerial assets, e.g. Airtankers, to come to help the crews on the ground fight wildfires in their State. This was the case in Minnesota, when Minnesota officials made such a request to the U.S. Forest Service. The Forest Service sent two CL 215/415 Super Scoopers Airtankers from Bridger Aerospace. The Super Scoopers take advantage of the 10,000 Lakes in Minnesota providing them close proximity to scope water from the Lake and then proceed to the wildfire to make a lot of drops before their fuel runs out. 

In the video I embedded you will hear the CEO of Bridger Aerospace, Sam Davis, talk about their CL 215-415 Super Scooper aircraft and how Super Scoopers and other airtankers and helicopters fight wildfires and work with local state resources. He adds a caution about the dangers of flying unauthorized drones over wildfires.

The video that I embedded above refers to wildfire statistics on May 21st for the three wildfires burning in Minnesota, see my May 21st post for more information.