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Rob Cockerham
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While watching news footage of a wildfire raging, maybe you’ve been struck by frustration at the lack of a high-tech, super-sized firefighting solution. Why, in 2009, don’t firefighters have access to a super water-cannon? Where is the quick-hardening smothering shell? How much longer will we wait for a mountain-climbing hydro-Roomba?

The answer may be closer than you think. I was treated to a demonstration of the largest firefighting vehicle in the world, the Evergreen Supertanker.

Check out the photos.

The largest firefighting vehicle in the world

Supertanker

The largest firefighting vehicle in the world
After a low-altitude dry run, the massive aircraft came by for the real thing. It came in low and slow, as if it was preparing for a landing. Evergreen International Aviation, based in Oregon, has been supporting wildland firefighting since the late 1930s.

Ready to Drop

After a low-altitude dry run, the massive aircraft came by for the real thing. It came in low and slow, as if it was preparing for a landing. Evergreen International Aviation, based in Oregon, has been supporting wildland firefighting since the late 1930s.
With a payload of 20,500 gallons, it has more than eight times the drop capacity of other federal air tankers currently fighting fires.

This Thing is a Monster

With a payload of 20,500 gallons, it has more than eight times the drop capacity of other federal air tankers currently fighting fires.
...cradled in the walls of a Boeing 747 jet. I imagine the high-pressure water dump makes an impressive whoosh, but it is not at all audible over the roar of low-flying 747.

Essentially, it’s an obscenely large fire extinguisher

…cradled in the walls of a Boeing 747 jet. I imagine the high-pressure water dump makes an impressive whoosh, but it is not at all audible over the roar of low-flying 747.
To drop water precisely, from an altitude appropriate for such a huge jet, the Supertanker was built with an array of high-pressure tanks. The water or retardant isn't just dropped, it is <em>sprayed</em> out of four 16-inch-wide nozzles under 40,000 pounds of pressure.

Evergreen faced a number of challenges

To drop water precisely, from an altitude appropriate for such a huge jet, the Supertanker was built with an array of high-pressure tanks. The water or retardant isn’t just dropped, it is sprayed out of four 16-inch-wide nozzles under 40,000 pounds of pressure.
A tumbling blast of water shot out toward the ground. As it left the high-pressure nozzles, the water slowed and rained down onto the field below.

20,500 Gallons

A tumbling blast of water shot out toward the ground. As it left the high-pressure nozzles, the water slowed and rained down onto the field below.
The plane dropped its entire load, 20,500 gallons, in less than 10 seconds.

And it Was Empty

The plane dropped its entire load, 20,500 gallons, in less than 10 seconds.
In use, the Supertanker can spread water or fire retardant into a patch 100 yards wide and 3 miles long. Or it can divide the load into separate drops, depending on what is needed for the fires at hand. It can also dump other liquids.

Inside the Beast

In use, the Supertanker can spread water or fire retardant into a patch 100 yards wide and 3 miles long. Or it can divide the load into separate drops, depending on what is needed for the fires at hand. It can also dump other liquids.
Aviation photo

This is where they drop the Mentos in

California and other state fire agencies will probably be slow to embrace this new titan. At a cost of $3 million per month, the Supertanker may find itself fighting only the worst fires in the most precious places with the most property at risk. Maybe the Supertanker won't replace traditional firefighting equipment and techniques, but it will definitely be nice to have a superhero waiting in the wings.

Blast Area — Stand Clear

California and other state fire agencies will probably be slow to embrace this new titan. At a cost of $3 million per month, the Supertanker may find itself fighting only the worst fires in the most precious places with the most property at risk. Maybe the Supertanker won’t replace traditional firefighting equipment and techniques, but it will definitely be nice to have a superhero waiting in the wings.
Aviation photo

Evergreen Supertanker