The Washington Department of Natural Resources hopes to add the world’s largest firefighting aircraft to its arsenal.
Wildfire season is an unfortunate reality in the northwest and Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz hopes the 747 Global Supertanker will assist in the annual firefight.
The aircraft is the only one of its kind and can carry up to 19,000 gallons of water or fire retardant. It has not yet been used in Washington, but it has made many missions in Oregon and California as well as others overseas.
The funding for it would come from House Bill 1168, which is making its way through the Washington Senate right now.
That bill would provide roughly $70 million in funding every two years in Washington for more firefighting resources, like the Supertanker.