Airtanker base loads record retardant

MOSES LAKE - The crew at Moses Lake's Air Tanker Base is winding down their fire-fighting operations after sending nearly 2 million gallons of retardant onto area fires.

In a normal year, the base would send less than 1 million gallons of retardant, and this year's total of 1.95 million smashes the previous record of 1.4 million gallons set in 2001.

"It's been a busy year for sure," Manager Robert Meade said.

The crew's efforts helped to battle many fires, including the Carlton Complex fire, the largest in the state's history that burned for about three weeks scorching 400 square miles, according to state fish and wildlife experts.

The days were long and busy not only for Meade's crew that makes sure the 10 planes per day land and take off safely, but also for the crews that load the retardant onto them.

Retardant Manager Bob Haring, with Hunot Retardant Company, was also busy continually loading the red retardant onto the many different types of planes that landed.

That included the mammoth DC-10 that can hold up to 10,000 gallons in an internal tank and smaller RJ85, a converted regional jet that holds 3,700 gallons in an external tank.

With cooler temperatures and rain showers decreasing the fire risk, Haring's crews installed new retardant pumps and meters to better track the exact amount of retardant being used.

With the lower wildfire risk, Meade sent home all of his crew except Assistant Manager Sherry Buss. They now spend the day monitoring future fires, winterizing the building, tending to the small garden at the base and watching the baby killdeer chicks that hatched on the grounds during the busy year.

This is Meade's last season, after 11 years at the base without a loss-time accident. He said he hopes to return to the base to volunteer in the future.