Fire Eaters: The People and Aircraft Combatting Wildfires Over the Last Century

The riveting history of how aircraft have transformed the fighting of wildfires.

Throughout history, when threatened by wildfires our only defense was to pray for rain and run — until aircraft changed the way we fight fires. Beginning with the Canadian “H-Boats” in 1924, aircraft have become indispensable in detecting and extinguishing wildfires. Fire Eaters tells the incredible stories of the Ontario Provincial Air Service, the first government aerial fire suppression organization in history; one of its pilots, Carl Crossley, who invented the water scoop-up and drop-off system; and the Canadair CL-215, the first purpose-built water bomber.

Today, helicopters with “Bambi Buckets” and snorkels can dump water while hovering directly over the flames, and Air Tractors and Dash 8-400AT air tankers not only perform a crucial role in saving communities but also protect our ecosystem. Satellites — unmanned aircraft able to fly for sixteen hours, even overnight when manned aircraft do not — and artificial intelligence already play a decisive role in fire management.

But it is the men and women of the aerial fire service who have really changed the way we fight fire around the world. Their bravery and dedication mean that response times are fast, fires can be contained sooner, and people have the chance to save rather than lose everything.