In the summer of 2021, five Dauntless Air “Fire Boss” planes repeatedly skimmed a Washington lake to refill their pontoons and fight a wildfire — a dramatic water-scooping maneuver CEO Brett L’Esperance compared to the animated plane Dusty Crophopper. That footage illustrates how these single-engine aircraft make frequent, fuel-intensive runs during suppression efforts.
Although the federal government coordinates most large wildfire responses, nearly all of the roughly 500 aircraft used by the U.S. are privately owned and hired under contract. Last year those contracted aircraft consumed about $50 million worth of jet fuel. With jet fuel prices rising since the war in Iran began in late February, the same level of aerial operations this season could push that fuel bill toward $100 million, potentially adding tens of millions in costs paid by taxpayers.
Retired wildfire pilot Willis Curdy says aerial firefighting requires extreme, low-altitude maneuvers that drive fuel burn far above that of typical airline flights. “This is not like getting in a 737 and going to 33,000 feet,” he said, noting that pilots often push their planes hard during suppression runs. Many firefighting contracts include clauses that allow companies to pass higher fuel costs through to the U.S. government.
The U.S. Forest Service, which leads responses to most large wildfires, told NPR it has budgeted $45 million for aviation fuel this year — roughly $7 million less than it spent last year. Agency officials did not agree to an interview, and that budget number could change as conditions develop. Federal forecasters are predicting an active fire season across much of the West, and several Western states experienced very dry or record-dry winters that could increase wildfire risk.
L’Esperance said his bigger concern is not only price but the possibility of fuel shortages. Much of the West’s jet fuel is refined in California, where refinery stocks are at their lowest in more than two years, according to the California Energy Commission. The American Petroleum Institute has noted California’s heavier reliance on imported oil, and those imports have been disrupted by the war in Iran. If fuel supplies tighten during peak fire months — late June through September — aerial response capacity could be constrained.
The Forest Service declined to say whether it expects a shortage this season but said it has flexibility to spend more if necessary. Still, with higher prices and possible supply constraints, taxpayers could face substantially larger bills for aviation fuel used in wildfire suppression this year.