Photos of aircraft on the Elephant Butte Fire, part 5 of 5

Tanker 101, an MD-87 (N291EA) Elephant Butte Fire
Tanker 101, an MD-87 (N291EA), on the Elephant Butte Fire southwest of Denver, July 13, 2020. Photo by skippyscage.com.

The Elephant Butte Fire burned about 50 acres on steep terrain southwest of Denver two miles northwest of Evergreen Lake, Colorado. It was reported around 3 p.m. on Monday July 13 and the spread was stopped at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday July 14 by good work from firefighters in the air and on the ground, with a big assist from rain.

Skippyscage.com got some great photos of the aircraft battling the blaze, both while they were over the fire and at the air tanker base at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (JEFFCO) northwest of Denver. With his permission, we will showing you some of his shots in five installments.

Today we are featuring Tanker 101 (N292EA), an MD-87 operated by Erickson Aero Tanker.

Tanker 101, an MD-87 (N291EA) Elephant Butte Fire
Tanker 101, an MD-87 (N291EA), dropping on the Elephant Butte Fire southwest of Denver, July 13, 2020. Photo by skippyscage.com.
Tanker 101, an MD-87 (N291EA), dropping on the Elephant Butte Fire
Tanker 101, an MD-87 (N291EA), dropping on the Elephant Butte Fire southwest of Denver, July 13, 2020. Photo by skippyscage.com.

Click here to see the series of five installments of photos of aircraft on the Elephant Butte Fire, posted daily from July 17 through July 21, 2020.


Here are more photos of Tanker 101 from the archives.

air tanker durango
Air tankers 101 and 103 at Durango, CO May 28, 2018. Photo by Dave Herdman.
Air tanker 101 Moonfish Fire Florida
Air Tanker 101, an MD-87, drops on the Moonfish Fire in Big Cypress National Preserve in south Florida. It was dropping plain water, rather than retardant or another chemical, due to the sensitivity of the Everglades ecosystem. Photo by Megan Hurrell.
Tankers 105, 06, and 101
Tankers 105, 06, and 101 (L to R) at Redmond OR, June 8, 2014. Photo by Jeff Ingelse.

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