The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has a pair of new planes at its disposal to fight Michigan wildfires this season, the state agency announced on Friday, May 8.
The water-scooping planes, also known as a Fire Boss aircraft, are capable of scooping up to 800 gallons of water from a lake in just 15 seconds.
The planes, which are leased by the DNR through June, during the worst part of Michigan’s fire season, are housed at the Gaylord Regional Airport.
The DNR says putting the flying machines in Gaylord allow firefighters to respond to wildfires anywhere in the state and especially for the areas hit hard by the 2025 northern Michigan ice storm.
“The branches and trees downed from the ice storm can impede us getting into the woods with equipment,” said Kevin Jacobs, DNR aviation manager. “The added debris on the ground will add fuel to the fire, which could cause wildfires to spread faster and burn with more intensity.”
Officials say the Air Tractor AT-802 models aren’t intended to replace firefighters on the ground, but can provide a head start once a fire is discovered.
“They can get to a fire scene fast,” Jacobs said. “Having two of these planes working in tandem can make a difference in our ability to contain fires and protect people, property and natural resources.”
The cost of the planes was paid for by a one-time allocation from the Michigan Legislature to mitigate the effects of the March 2025 ice storm.
Most recently, the aircraft helped crews this week with a fire on federal land near Mio.
The DNR’s air power against wildfire also includes an agreement with Michigan State Police to use two police helicopters to carry water with so-called Bambi buckets, 320-gallon urethane buckets that can dip from smaller water sources.
“Utilizing both types of aircraft, we can quickly get to a fire with water scooped from large lakes or small ponds,” Jacobs said.
What are Air Tractor AT-802 aircraft?
The planes are Air Tractor AT-802 models, designed for agricultural use and modified to include floats for landing on water. They need approximately a mile of open water to perform their water-scooping sequence, the DNR said.
The single-engine, single-pilot plant has a payload of 9,249 pounds and an 800-gallon hopper.
Does Michigan typically see wildfires this time of year?
Yes. Wildfire season for Michigan occurs mainly in the spring from April-June, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association. Michigan firefighters respond to 10,000-12,000 wildfires each year of varying sizes.
Lansing State Journal reporter Sarah Moore contributed reporting.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: DNR leases fire-fighting planes to aid in 2026 season
Reporting by Jalen Williams, USA TODAY NETWORK / Detroit Free Press
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