By Olivia Young | CBS Colorado
Douglas County fire crews experienced a busy weekend as a heat wave warmed the Denver metro area. The agency’s fire suppression helicopter responded to several calls, including a destructive brush fire in Byers Arapahoe County, a plane’s emergency landing and three smoke checks.
CBS Colorado learned more about the resource proving to be instrumental for communities around the metro area by watching the Helitack team demonstrate their approach, which is a combination of aerial and ground firefighting.
When a wildfire sparks, every second counts.
“We just arrived on scene. I got eyes on the fire. We’re going to try to anchor in at the heel and go up the right flank. If you could just have the helicopter drop on the left flank,” a firefighter radioed others on his team during the demonstration.
It’s why Douglas County has invested $1,505,000 this year alone in a wildfire suppression helicopter, and $1,205,324 in a 10-person Helitack team.