Smothered from above

Smothered from above

Sleek air tankers prepare for wildfire season; San Juan forest will have access to single-engine plane
Sam Green/Cortez Journal

The plane drops a load of water on the target area during the exercise.
Sam Green/Cortez Journal

Cortez firefighter Roger Beckermeyer signals to shut off the water as Jayna Vera closes the valve and pilot Parker Lucas prepare to take off.
Sam Green/Cortez Journal

After directing the pilot in, the ground crew watches as the plane drops water on the target area.

Smothered from above

Sam Green/Cortez Journal

The plane drops a load of water on the target area during the exercise.
Sam Green/Cortez Journal

Cortez firefighter Roger Beckermeyer signals to shut off the water as Jayna Vera closes the valve and pilot Parker Lucas prepare to take off.
Sam Green/Cortez Journal

After directing the pilot in, the ground crew watches as the plane drops water on the target area.