Press Release
Cooler temperatures yesterday helped firefighters make significant progress on containment. The fire has now burned 13,862 acres and is 40% contained.
As hotter conditions return, fire activity is expected to increase. The Trail Mountain Fire has had heavy air support from the beginning.
As of Sunday, June 17, a total of 784,230 gallons of water had been dropped on the fire. There are a few different types of helicopters assigned, with varying bucket capacities. The largest helicopter, the Chinook, hauls 2,800 gallons of water weighing 22,400 lbs. The Firehawk and K-Max helicopters haul 700 gallons with a weight of 5,600 lbs. The 205 ++ is a medium helicopter capable of hauling 300 gallons of water weighing 2,400 lbs. The light helicopters include the A Star and 407. Each is capable of hauling 144 gallons weighing 1,120 lbs.
Firefighter safety is always a concern with that much water coming down, and ground crews are cautioned to always be aware. Stay tuned for more information on air support coordination.