Colorado unveils new plane to help fight wildfires

Fire officials have unveiled a multi-mission airplane aimed at changing how wildfires are fought across Colorado.

Rocco Snart is the acting section chief overseeing wildfire management for the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. He tells The Denver Post the planes, which use infrared, electro-optical sensors, will improve firefighters’ situational awareness.

The airplanes, single-engine PC-12s, have special sensor technology that detects small wildfires before they grow into large blazes like the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire.

Colorado will use a rental PC-12 until two of the aircraft arrive in December. The airplanes will cost the state $12.6 million.

The rental plane and program took flight Sept. 1 at a small wildfire near Durango.