Colorado Springs Airtanker Base aims to help fight wildfires statewide

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KDVR) — The Metropolis of Colorado Springs and the U.S. Forest Service are set to unveil a model new airtanker base Wednesday, one they hope will assist combat wildfires statewide. 

The Colorado Springs Airtanker Base would be the fourth of its form within the state, in keeping with the USFS, becoming a member of bases in Jefferson County, Durango and Grand Junction.

“On the subject of preventing fireplace, the extra sources now we have the higher off our guys on the bottom are going to be,” airtanker specialist Robby Cline mentioned.

Cline mentioned the bottom will permit firefighting plane to succeed in anyplace inside a 300-mile radius in a single hour. That features your entire state of Colorado, in addition to neighboring states, ought to assist be wanted.

“If there’s a fireplace and we’re requested, we’re going to be there,” he mentioned. 

Cline mentioned the Colorado Springs airport has minimal industrial exercise in comparison with another bigger airports within the area, which ought to profit wildfire efforts.

“In the event that they’re preventing a fireplace in Boulder and so they can’t deal with as many planes or get the masses out sooner, we may even see some diverts coming down right here, the place we may help them maintain that sequence going and actually assist individuals up there,” Cline mentioned.

The bottom formally opens with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday. Cline mentioned they’ve already used the bottom to combat a number of early-season fires in Colorado, together with the latest Excessive Park Hearth.