The U.S. Forest Service air tanker base in Helena is operating at an accelerated pace this summer, with aircraft dropping nearly four times as much fire retardant by early August compared to the same period last year.

As of August 3, the Helena facility had deployed just over 232,000 gallons of retardant across Montana and neighboring states, compared to 62,000 gallons through the same date in 2025. The base began operations July 1 this year, two weeks earlier than the June 15 start date last year, reflecting intensified fire activity across the region.

Multi-State Operations

The Helena tanker base supports a fleet of single-engine air tankers, bucket-equipped helicopters, and very large air tankers including DC-10s. So far this season, aircraft have responded to 10 distinct fires across Montana, Washington, Idaho, and Wyoming. In Montana specifically, tanker crews have served the Ant Park Fire near Showdown Resort, along with the Elder 1 and Skillet fires. Aircraft also responded to the Old Trails fire near Spokane.

The facility maintains high-capacity pumps and off-load tanks that can refill large aircraft in under 30 minutes, enabling rapid turnaround during active fire operations. This logistical capability allows the base to support sustained response across a broad geographic area during peak summer fire season.

Increased Activity Reflects Demand

Last year, the base responded to 33 fires across its service area during the entire season, which ran from mid-June through mid-September. The current pace suggests a notably active fire year. Recent weeks have seen multiple fires spring up across central Montana, including a wildfire along the I-90 corridor near Livingston and the Bobcat Lakes Fire near Wisdom, which have drawn firefighting resources including smokejumpers and ground crews.

The Helena air tanker base serves as a critical resource for fire suppression across the Northern Rockies and surrounding region. The facility’s expanded early-season deployment reflects both the geographic scope of current fire activity and the dependency of federal and state fire agencies on aerial firefighting assets during peak summer months.