Above Los Angeles, air tankers and helicopters weave through towering wildfire plumes, releasing essential flame retardant and valuable water onto the fires raging below.
From the vantage point of a helicopter circling the city, AFP reporters observed multiple blazes—plumes of smoldering smoke rising from the mountainous terrain like newly awoken volcanoes, stretching across the skyline.
In mere minutes, what had been a serene airspace over the emerging Kenneth Fire transformed into a hub of intense activity, as firefighting officials swiftly redirected their ample aerial resources to combat this latest outbreak.
Approximately six helicopters flew at low altitudes, delivering water to the perimeter of the inferno.
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“There has never been so many happening simultaneously, just tearing” through the skies, helicopter pilot Albert Azouz noted.
Having flown for a private aviation company since 2016, he has witnessed numerous fires, including the deadly Malibu blazes from six years ago.
“That was insane,” he reminisced.
Yet, hovering above the chaotic scene, he continued to insist this is “crazy town”.
A helicopter drops water on the Palisades Fire in California
The Kenneth Fire erupted late yesterday afternoon near Calabasas, a wealthy area just outside Los Angeles known for its celebrity residents, including the reality television family, the Kardashians.
Aerial units, such as Boeing Chinook helitankers equipped with 3,000-gallon tanks, have been brought in from as far as Canada.
After being grounded for the first few hours of the Los Angeles fires on Tuesday due to winds soaring up to 160 km/h, these aircraft have become crucial assets in the fight to control the flames and mitigate further damage.
Helicopters carried out several hundred water drops yesterday while conditions allowed.
Those equipped for nighttime operations continued to maneuver around the smoke-filled area, working tirelessly to douse the flames, prior to the return of stronger gusts predicted to sweep back into the Los Angeles basin overnight.
Read more: Satellite imagery shows scale of fire damage around Los Angeles
