Above: Tanker 475 reloading at Hot Springs, SD, during the Sheps Canyon Fire, September 4, 2017.
(Originally published at 10:24 p.m. MDT, September 4, 2017)
A New Frontiers Aviation Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) assisted firefighters on the Sheps Canyon Fire near Lake Angostura in the Black Hills of South Dakota Monday. According to the FAA registry Air Tanker 475 is a WSK-PZL MEILEC. The aircraft came out of the Valentine, Nebraska SEAT base since the SEAT stationed at Hot Springs five miles northeast of the fire was not staffed today. T-475 reloaded with retardant at Hot Springs, but had to go to Rapid City to refuel since the Hot Springs Airport does not have Jet-A fuel.
The original dispatch for the Sheps Canyon fire was a camper vehicle fire. It spread into the vegetation burning about 13 acres before firefighters were able to knock it down.
