The USDA Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management use a variety of aircraft and helicopters to help manage wildfires. They are critical tools in managing wildland fire. Although aircraft are often used to fight wildfires, aircraft alone cannot put them out. Firefighters rely on planes and helicopters to:
• Deliver equipment and supplies.
• Deploy smokejumpers and rappelers to a fire.
• Transport firefighters.
• Provide reconnaissance of new fires, fire locations, and fire behavior.
• Drop fire retardant or water to slow down a fire so firefighters can contain it.
• Ignite prescribed fires.
Local aviation resources on the forest include the Salmon Heli-rappellers and Challis Helitack Crew. Helitack modules specialize in the use of helicopters for initial attack and support of large fires. The aircraft provides rapid transport, allowing firefighters to quickly respond to and size up wildfires, especially in remote, inaccessible locations. Helitack modules may land near a wildfire or, if equipped and trained, rappel from the helicopter. Once on the ground, the firefighters construct fireline and/or helispots to shuttle additional resources into the fire. Helicopter crewmembers also perform other duties such as conducting firing operations, overseeing the aerial delivery of fire suppression equipment, and managing helibases.
