Firefighting aircraft buzzing the skies over Redding, but 'do not be alarmed'
Firefighting aircraft will be zooming low over the skies above Redding and Shasta County this week, but "do not be alarmed," officials with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.
The agency is conducting aerial firefighting training from Tuesday through Friday, according to Jas Shaw, a Cal Fire spokeswoman.
U.S. Forest Service and Cal Fire aircraft, including helicopters and airplanes, will be working with crews based at the air attack base just north of the Redding Regional Airport for aerial firefighting training, she said.
The aircraft and crews are doing firefighting simulations. While they will not be working actual fires, the aircraft will be loading up with water at the air attack base and making water drops southeast of Lake California in Tehama County, Shaw said.
Firefighters from the North State, Oregon, Washington, Florida, Minnesota and as far away as Australia will be taking part in the training, officials said.
Cal Fire and Forest Service officials last week marked the completion of a $28 million upgrade to the agencies' Redding firefighting air base. The increase more than doubles the number airplanes the facility can accommodate and increases by 132% the amount of fire retardant that can be loaded onto aircraft.
The air base previously had two bays for loading aircraft with fire retardant, but by this summer officials expect to be able to fill up to five airplanes simultaneously. Officials said the increase in capacity and speed they can fill aircraft will make the airbase the only one of its kind in the world.
In 2021, the air base used 3 million gallons of fire retardant. With the expansion, that will increase to a capacity of 6 million gallons, according to the forest service.
Reporter Damon Arthur welcomes story tips at 530-338-8834, by email at damon.arthur@redding.com and on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @damonarthur_RS. Help local journalism thrive by subscribing today!
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Firefighting aircraft flying low over Redding, but 'do not be alarmed'
