Fire fighting float plane on the Columbia

A float equipped Air Tractor scooped up water on Saturday off Ohrbergs Beach, Puget Island, to dump on a wildfire along the Pacific/Lewis County Line. According to the Air Tractor website, the plane can carry both retardant and water. It can scoop 800 gallons of water in 12-15 seconds and be off the water and on its way again to the front lines in as few as 20-30 seconds. As of Saturday, the fire covered 30 acres and was 10 miles from the nearest home.