LAKEWOOD, Colo.—The Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center has ordered a heavy air tanker and helicopter because of the high fire danger in eastern Colorado and the Front Range.
The center, which manages firefighting efforts in Colorado, says the aircraft are expected to arrive this week and will be stationed at an airport in Jefferson County.
The center says the aircraft will be available to help fight fires throughout the state and will remain in Colorado until conditions improve or they’re needed elsewhere.
Because of their limited availability, air tankers are managed nationally so they can be moved quickly to respond to wildfires.
Glenn Bartter, assistant center manager, says having extra aircraft on hand is unusual for this time of year, “but the extreme conditions required us to move some resources into Colorado.”
