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DC-10 to drop retardant starting Friday
Special plant must be assembled before operations
Updated: Wednesday, 07 Sep 2011, 5:59 PM CDT
Published : Wednesday, 07 Sep 2011, 2:27 PM CDT
AUSTIN (KXAN) - A DC-10 tanker is on the ground at Austin Bergstrom International Airport and is expected to be ready to begin dumping fire retardant on the Central Texas wildfires on Friday.
Why the delay?
April Saginor of the Texas Forest Service said a special facility must be manufactured on site to develop the material that will be dropped from the aircraft.
"They are setting up a retardant plant to mix the retardant," Saginor said. "It involves hoses and tanks and won’t be operational until Friday. The DC-10 has been flying fires in California and has mandatory days off for safety purposes on Wednesday and Thursday."
The aircraft, which can hold about 12,000 gallons of retardant, is owned by a private company that contracts with U.S. Forest. The Texas Forest Service ordered it.
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