Nevada County June 30, 2008 - Firefighters have set up a temporary plant in Bear Valley near Highway 20 to mix fire retardant for use on the Yuba River Complex fires. The plant mixes dry fire retardant (an orange-colored powder with a fertilizer base) and water in a 12,000-gallon tank. The resulting substance is immediately pumped into a 6,000 gallon "dip tank". This looks like a large orange-colored wading pool that's easy for pilots to see. The crew is careful to only fill the tank to 5,000 gallons in order to minimize spillage when the bucket is dipped into the tank.
Large heavy-lift helicopters can pick up 1,200-1,500 gallons of retardant, while smaller helicopters carry up to 300 gallons at a time in buckets suspended beneath them. The retardant slows the fire progression to assist the crews in building the fire line.
When the helicopter is finished dropping retardant, the bucket is then dipped in a fresh water tank for rinsing.
Once in the ground, plants absorb the retardant as fertilizer. It fades from orange to an earth tone when exposed to the sun.
Cautions: Watch for increased traffic on Highway 20 and for helicopters shuttling back and forth. Helicopters are interesting to watch, but are dangerous. No one is permitted in the helispot area.
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