New tech reshapes Idaho air firefighting

Aerial firefighting companies gathered in Boise this week to present new tools for managing wildfires. The event, held at JUMP, brought together operators from around the world to address gaps in current suppression methods. Industry leaders argued that fire behavior has outpaced traditional tactics for decades.

Todd O’Hara of TracPlus stated that the industry has fought fires using the same methods for 40 to 50 years. He noted that fires have worsened faster than technology has been able to improve response efficiency. His New Zealand-based company tracks approximately 3,500 aircraft globally. TracPlus collects flight data, including the volume and location of retardant drops. O’Hara said the firm is building a mathematical model to standardize decision-making. The goal is to allow new personnel to make the same strategic calls as veterans with 20 to 30 years of experience.

Retardant chemistry is also evolving to improve visibility. Jim Karels of Perimeter Solutions explained that the standard dark red color is changing to a fuchsia or pink hue. This brighter shade is easier for pilots and ground crews to see. Karels said the new color dissipates more quickly than the older formulas. Perimeter Solutions is currently updating its retardant mixtures to work better with specific air tankers.

Neptune Aviation is increasing the capacity of its fleet to reduce the number of trips needed to build fire lines. Nic Lynn of Neptune Aviation said the company dropped 606,000 gallons of retardant in Idaho this year. The company is developing a new large air tanker that will carry 4,500 gallons. This represents a 50% increase over its current 146 model. Lynn said higher capacity allows crews to build longer lines around fires with fewer flights.

The company is also converting an Airbus A319 into a dedicated firefighting plane. Lynn stated that this conversion supports the strategy of moving more retardant with less equipment. These innovations aim to address the increasing speed and intensity of wildfires in the region.