1. A shaggy-haired motorcycle gang member was arraigned on murder charges Wednesday for allegedly sparking a wildfire that left two air tanker pilots dead. 2. Additional air tankers, engines and helicopters also were called into action. 3. Air tankers dumped fire retardant on the blaze, and the CDF said the absence of heavy winds was preventing the fire from spreading farther. 4. But this week, the air tankers and firefighters are nowhere to be found. 5. By nightfall Sunday, fire-fighting air tankers were forced to pull out because of darkness. 6. Four California Department of Forestry helicopters and air tankers bombed the scene from above with water and fire retardant while firefighters attacked on the ground with hoses and axes. 7. Helicopters and air tankers are dropping water and fire retardant on both blazes. 8. In the sky, air tankers drone and whine, dropping retardant on a part of the fire nearby. 9. On Thursday afternoon, two Forest Service air tankers, swooping low over singed prairie and patches of mesquite, dropped bursts of reddish-orange flame retardant. 10. Plumes, though they keep the fire cool, also make it difficult to use firefighting air tankers and helicopters because of poor visibility. |