04/04/06 jumbo Jets fight fire

After several seasons of devastating fires the western wild fire has become a force out of control. As hard as it is to envision, jumbo jets are being considered as the latest arsenal to fight wildfires. Evergreen International in Oregon has spent millions outfitting one such jet to be able to deliver incredible amounts of chemical retardant or water. This plane can drop over 20,000 gallons, 7 times more than traditional tankers from distances as high as 800 feet. The jet is making introductory rounds this month throughout the west promoting the fact that it does the job with fewer aircraft and less hours. A Spokesman for the Forest Service voiced concerns over whether fire retardant can be dispersed in different concentrations and questioned the ability of the jumbo jet to impact dense forests. If you happen to see a big jumbo jet overhead when you are enjoying the great outdoors, take cover, it's one jet stream you don't want to find yourself under. I'm Susan Allen and this is Food Forethought. Source: 3/12/06 USA Today Jumbo jet applies for firefighting job