Australians firefighter help deal with California wildfires
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CBS, KYMA/KECY) - There's some new men at work this summer during the fire season.
They've come from a land down under to help battle California wildfires.
"We're not sure what the season's going to bring us," said Jonathan Young, air tanker maintenence engineer.
Young is one of the australians that are now in Sacramento, using a 737 air tanker on loan from the New South Wales government.
"It holds 4000 gallons," Young detailed.
Used on several incidents
The Aussies are currently operating out of CalFire's McClellan Air Tanker Base in Sacramento.
"We are lucky to leave our Australian winter to come to the California summer," Young remarked.
The plane has already been used on several incidents this summer, including the Gann Fire in Calaveras County.
"The satisfaction of it is very rewarding. Our job is to support the guys on the ground...They're the ones doing the hard work," said Rob Minter, American chief pilot.
Boosting the state's firefighting fleet
The Ausssie 737 is one of 24 new aircraft that CalFire is adding this summer, spending an extra $72 million to boost the state's firefighting fleet.
"They're already in position and trained up," said Captain Ezra Johnson of CalFire.
Australia's air tanker can drop nearly four times more retardant than CalFire's S2 aircraft.
“We can lay out long retardant lines, or we can lay out short heavy retardant lines depending on the terrain," Young explained.
"The retardant that comes out of these aircraft will help us slow the rapid spread of fires," Johnson added.
New help from the other side of the planet
And this particular airplane was once used by Southwest Airlines here in the states.
"Many people who have visited it said they've possibly flown on it at some point," Young spoke.
It's new help from the other side of the planet to protect california from potentially devastating wildfires.
"Hopefully they're not bad this year, but you never know until the end of the season," Minter hoped.
