Firefighting From Above
As the sun sets over Los Angeles, the sky becomes a canvas for the intense aerial battle against the wildfires. Air tankers and helicopters, stark against the fiery backdrop, are dropping retardants and water in a desperate bid to quell the raging fires below.
A Chaotic Sky
From the vantage point of a helicopter, AFP reporters observed multiple fires erupting across the mountainous terrain, reminiscent of volcanoes spewing smoke into the skyline. The airspace over the newly ignited Kenneth Fire near Calabasas has turned into a hive of activity, with firefighting aircraft swarming to combat the spread of the flames.
Aerial Maneuvers
Low-flying helicopters are seen tipping water onto the fire’s perimeter, while higher up, smaller planes guide massive tankers that release streams of bright-red fire retardant. The scale of aerial operations is unprecedented, as noted by veteran pilot Albert Azouz, who described the scene as “crazy town” compared to even the notorious Malibu fires of years past.
READ ALSO: Devastating Wildfires Ravage Los Angeles, Claiming Lives and Destroying Homes
A Race Against Time and Weather
The Kenneth Fire, which started late Thursday near the upscale community of Calabasas, home to celebrities like the Kardashians, has drawn significant air support, including heavy-lift Boeing Chinook helitankers from Canada. These aircraft, grounded earlier in the week due to extreme winds, are now crucial in the effort to contain the blaze before anticipated wind increases could fan the flames further.
Non-Stop Operations
Throughout Thursday, helicopters conducted hundreds of water drops. Even as night fell, those equipped for nocturnal operations continued to work relentlessly around the smoke-filled skies, attempting to suppress the fires before the wind could exacerbate the situation overnight.
