DEER PARK, Wash. -- The Department of Natural Resources is using a new water scooper plane this fire season.
The plane is called the 802 Fire Boss. It can make multiple water drops much quicker than the planes already in the firefighting fleet. DNR says it was a no-brainer to get their hands on one this fire season.
The aircraft can carry up to 800 gallons of water. It's not as large a load other firefighting planes can carry. But it's the speed of the Fire Boss that sets it apart.
"We get faster turnaround, less water, but when the fire is smaller it's getting it there faster that makes a big difference," said pilot Jesse Weaver.
Once the plane is off the ground, it can stay up for four hours, allowing it to fight multiple fires if needed. It can also dip into smaller lakes.
The 802 proved itself last Friday when it was sent to a small fire near Cheney. After several drops, DNR attributed the successful firefight in large part to the plane.
The plane costs four-thousand dollars an hour while in use. That's less than the larger planes in the fleet.
