Local crews fights fires by air

MOSES LAKE - An increase of fire activity in Central Washington has led to a similar increase in local fire fighting efforts.

Robert Meade, base manager of the Moses Lake Air Tanker Base, said a lot of work goes on behind the scenes to ensure planes are continuously ready to help fight fires.

The Moses Lake base contracts privately owned planes to fight fires in the immediate area. The base also uses a fleet of federally-funded tankers during the fire season.

The planes that move in and out of the base can carry anywhere from 2,000 gallons of fire retardant to about 10,000 gallons, Meade said.

Planes move from the East Coast across the country as summer progresses, Meade said. Based on patterns from previous fires seasons, the planes are sent to bases depending on the anticipated needs of the area.

The Moses Lake base is typically open from June 10 to October 27, when fire activity in this area is at its peak.

During Meade's first year on base in 2003, pilots used about 350,000 gallons, he said.

With the increase in fire activity this season, Meade said the base has sent out a record amount of retardant to fires in the area. Since Sept. 10, when the most recent fire spurt started, Meade said more than 300,000 gallons have gone out on planes.

Planes have gone out to the fires in Wenatchee, Yakima and Table Mountain, he said.

"We're up to 589,000 gallons this year so far," he said. "Last year we did 30,000 gallons."