Photos of aircraft on the Red Canyon Fire in the Black Hills of South Dakota

Above: Air tanker 866 drops on the Red Canyon Fire. Photo by Bill Gabbert.

The lightning-caused Red Canyon Fire was reported at 12:45 p.m. MDT on Saturday 9 miles southwest of Pringle, South Dakota but an aggressive attack on the ground and from the air stopped it at 13 acres.

In addition to engines, and water tenders, and four hand crews, at least 10 aircraft joined the battle. We were there for a couple of hours and observed one large air tanker, at least five single engine air tankers, one Sikorsky Skycrane helicopter, a lead plane, an air attack ship, and an Astar B3 helicopter.

In the gallery below, click on an image to see a larger version, then click the arrow buttons.

Tanker 07, a P2V, drops on the Red Canyon Fire, July 9, 2016. Photo by Bill Gabbert.

A lead plane produces smoke to mark the desired location of an air tanker drop on the Red Canyon Fire

Air Tanker 850 drops on the Red Canyon Fire. Photo by Bill Gabbert.

Helitanker 718 on the Red Canyon Fire. Photo by Bill Gabbert.

Helitanker 718 on the Red Canyon Fire. Photo by Bill Gabbert.

Helitanker 718 drops on the Red Canyon Fire. Photo by Bill Gabbert.

Air tanker 455 drops on the Red Canyon Fire. Photo by Bill Gabbert.

Air tanker 866 drops on the Red Canyon Fire. Photo by Bill Gabbert.

The Astar B3 helicopter based at Custer, SD refills its bucket at a heliwell on the Red Canyon Fire. Photo by Bill Gabbert.