McCook airport will be one of five locations for Nebraska Forest Service

Nebraska Weather Service fire plane

courtesy photo

McCOOK, Neb. — Fighting fires by air will get a boost from below at the McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport.

The McCook City Council voted unanimously in favor Monday night to approve a lease with the Nebraska Forest Service, Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska, to lease and occupy a parcel of ground at the McCook city airport to aid in the purpose of regional wildland fire suppression.

A representative of the Nebraska Forest Service told the council this would be the fifth permanent location and help with coverage from Northwest Kansas up to the location in the Chadron/Valentine, Neb., area. There is a also mobile location in Ogallala, Neb.

Single engine air tanker (SEAT) bases in Nebraska, working in partnership with the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, are Miller Field in Valentine, Chadron Municipal Airport, Alliance Municipal Airport and Western Nebraska Regional Airport in Scottsbluff. 

When needed, the fire fighting equipment also helps with fires in eastern Wyoming, eastern Colorado and South Dakota.

There are typically 15 to 20 missions per year, most during mid July throughout mid September, the representative said.

Equipment would include, intermittently, a single engine air tanker, similar to a crop duster, trailer, water tanks tanks for fire suppression, material, hoses valves and other items.

Councilman Jerry Calvin asked if there is mutual aid with Kansas, with the Nebraska Forest Service representative answering that aid is part of an interstate compact agreement.

“We lend it out…but can get (the equipment) immediately back if there is fire in the area,” he said. ”We help out our neighbors because at some point, we’re going to need it ourselves.”

The city will charge $225 a month, the same rate at the Chadron airport, said City Manager Nate Schneider. The aircraft and support equipment would be stored outside, on the north side of the airport.

If water is needed, the Nebraska Forest Service will fill an 18,000 gallon tank. City staff reviewed the costs associated with filling the tank and estimated the expense at $40 and will waive that fee.

In response to a question by Councilman Jared Muhlenkamp, a manager in training from North Platte, Neb., will maintain the McCook base until a full-time manager is found for the fire fighting season.

There are 22 aerial applicator companies, with 45 airplanes, who have agreed to cooperate with the Nebraska Forest Service in aerial fire suppression, according to the NFS website.