Fairbanks water scoopers were on practice flight, not a new fire

Four single-engine water scoopers seen over Fairbanks on Friday were flying a practice mission, not responding to a new fire, according to USFWS Alaska.

The agency said the aircraft flew a Mission Currency Flight after going about a week without a fire assignment. Pilots run those flights to stay sharp.

All four aircraft flew from Fort Wainwright to Minto Lakes, completed three water scoops each and returned to Fort Wainwright, USFWS Alaska said.

The aircraft are AT-802F single-engine scoopers. USFWS Alaska contracts four of them each year and can bring in more when needed.

Each aircraft can take on about 800 gallons of water in roughly 15 seconds. Under good conditions, the scoopers can drop up to 14,000 gallons an hour on nearby fires, the agency said.

USFWS Alaska said the scoopers have helped this season by cooling hotspots and supporting firefighters on the ground. Alaska Wildland Fire Information reported earlier this month that scooper aircraft helped cool the Bean Fire west of Manley Hot Springs.

Photos of the water scoopers working on Alaska wildfires this season were provided by Dauntless Air and taken by Alaska Smokejumper Jake Murie, the agency said.