Inside look at Fresno Air Attack Base as crews fight several wildfires

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- With wildfires raging throughout Central California, firefighters are taking to the skies.

Action News got rare access inside the Fresno Air Attack Base, where several tankers touched down and taxied over to reload and refuel.

Crews on the ground moved quickly to turn the planes.

There are five loading pits and four storage tanks. Together, they hold 100,000 gallons of fire retardant.

The operators of the Erickson Aero Tanker confirm it can hold 3,000 gallons. It takes just seven minutes to reload.

"That short turnaround time for those Type One tankers for us to get retardant into these areas, you know, that's a big deal," Spokesperson Adrienne Freeman at the U.S. Forest Service said. She is assigned to the Garnet Fire, where several aircraft have flown.

RELATED: Tracking every wildfire burning throughout Central California

One of the planes is called an air attacker. Described as a control tower in the sky, the crew coordinates the drops below.

They listen to six radios, each with two frequencies, often juggling several transmissions. They handle most of it on their lap, using a kneeboard and paper.

One flight crew told us about the maps they print. With several fires, they must be prepared for all of them.

Crews from CAL FIRE and the U.S. Forest Service are now joining each other's daily briefings.

"We have what is called Initial Attack Responsibility under our temporary flight restriction," Freeman said. "It means we don't bring other aircraft into a controlled airspace."

MAP: See where California wildfires are burning right now

Helicopters fly at less than 500 feet and go in one direction.

Tankers fly between 500 feet and 1,500 feet, flying the other direction.

Above, the attackers circle with a birds-eye view. They stay up for about three hours at a time.

"Sometimes, we're in places where we're an hour from a drop, and this is a great advantage to this fire to have all of (these) aircraft and have it close by," Freeman said of the Garnet Fire.

As night falls, the aerial attack continues. Some aircraft and crews can fly in darkness.

"We utilize those helicopters to kind of be a force multiplier," Freeman said. "When we have conditions that are cooler, that are a little bit wetter, those water drops can really go a long way."

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