As wildfires continue to burn through forest and grasslands in California, Oregon and Washington, a huge force of men and women from across the nation have been sent to west coast states to help battle the blazes. Reuters says there are over 17,000 firefighters currently fighting fires in California alone, plus thousands more in Oregon and Washington. Slowly but surely, they are starting to get the upper hand on the historic blazes. Nearly five million acres have burned since Labor Day and we've obviously been experiencing heavy smoke from the fires drifting across Montana.
Billings Flying Service, founded by local brothers Al and Gary Blain in 1983, has been heavily involved in firefighting efforts across the West and around the world for years. One of their best tools for the job is their fleet of Chinook CH-47 helicopters. These thundering sky-beasts feature two engines, each generating 5,000 horsepower.