Team Rushes to Complete Winter Preparation for the Unexpected Early Mission

Bridger Aerospace, based in Belgrade, Montana, has dispatched its CL-415EAF “Super Scooper” aircraft to California to aid in battling devastating wildfires. This deployment was far earlier than expected, forcing the team to complete its seasonal preparations rapidly.

California’s wildfire season varies by region, with Northern California typically peaking from June to November and Southern California starting as early as May. However, the inferno came early this year and has quickly swept through 40,000 acres in the greater Los Angeles area. The catastrophic wildfires have killed 24 residents and destroyed over 12,000 structures, causing the US Forest Service to send a task order to Bridger Aerospace for assistance.

“I am proud of our team, which mobilized in record time to be prepared to assist and supplement the existing wildfire fighting efforts in California," expressed the company’s interim CEO, Sam Davis. "The team completed required winter maintenance and related preparations, and with our first Scooper arriving in California over the weekend, this marks the earliest seasonal Scooper deployment in Company history.”

Bridger Aerospace operates a fleet of six CL-415EAF Super Scoopers, capable of picking up  1,412 gallons of water from lakes or rivers and dropping it on fires from low altitudes. This enables the aircraft to dump over 100,000 gallons of water onto a wildfire daily. With a four-hour fuel cycle, the aircraft can continuously support ground firefighters by repeatedly attacking fire fronts without returning to an airport for reloading.

Last year, the big yellow and red Super Scoopers played a substantial role in containing the  Colt Fire northwest of Seeley Lake. This scorched nearly 7,500 acres throughout July and August 2023.

In addition to the current deployment, Bridger Aerospace is upgrading and maintaining four CL-215T Super Scoopers for future operations in Europe. Off-season maintenance, including annual inspections and repairs, is conducted at the company’s Bozeman headquarters to ensure the fleet is ready for peak fire season.

FMI: https://bridgeraerospace.com