Air Tanker Lays Red Retardant Line Around Horse Fire In California Foothills

An air tanker dropped a long line of bright red fire retardant along the edge of the Horse Fire as it burned through dry foothills in Fresno County.

The fire broke out at about 1 p.m. on October 13 on Powerhouse Road near Auberry. Footage released by CAL FIRE/Fresno County Fire that day was filmed from a second aircraft flying above the tanker. It shows the plane sweeping low past a column of smoke and a blackened burn scar, laying retardant across the golden grass and oak woodland.

According to CAL FIRE, quick suppression kept the fire to about 8 acres, and evacuation orders were lifted shortly after they were issued. Fire crews said a vehicle’s catalytic converter sparked the blaze, which was fully contained the next morning.