Ely airport a critical base in ongoing firefighting effort

As the fight to control the enormous fires still smoldering across large portions of the Boundary Waters enters its second month, the Ely airport has become home for some of the specialized aircraft and their crews that play such a critical role in the ongoing effort.
These are the specialists fighting the fires in the wilderness and they fly into some of the most extreme conditions that can be experienced in the Northland.
Brian Schroeder, Air Support Group Supervisor, detailed the logistical and technical complexities of aerial firefighting.
“The BWCAW presents unique challenges that elevate the importance of aviation fire support. Due to the lack of roads and shallow root systems that make ground travel hazardous (falling trees), crew are almost entirely dependent on aerial resupply. The rule is ‘No water, no work.’ Aviation is responsible for delivering all food, water, and equipment. To maintain morale and stamina, the resupply team prioritizes delivering fresh food boxes from local suppliers. This avoids the ground crews living on a steady diet of MREs during their one to two weeks long remote deployments. Aviation id also the primary means of extraction and rapid support as fire conditions can change very rapidly.”
Managing a high volume of diverse aircraft in a normally quiet airspace requires a rigid command structure to prevent mid-air incidents. 
An Air Attack Group Supervisor acts as the “ground control” in the sky. Flying above all other aerial assets. This individual coordinates the drops for scoopers and helicopters to ensure pilots aren’t overwhelmed by multiple points of contact. Managing radio communications is one of the more challenging parts of aerial fire assault: air-to-air pilot coms, Air Attack Group Supervisor coms, base coms, and air-to-ground crew coms. Crushing the fire is best accomplished when safety is the priority.
The sky above, around and flying through smoke and intense heat require specialty aircraft and equipment, including:
Scoopers: Described as “single-engine amphibians.” These aircraft can scoop a full load of approximately 800 gallons of water in approximately 45 seconds while skimming a lake. That translates to delivering up to 14,000 gal/hr. per Fire Boss aircraft. Powered by a 1600 horsepower Pratt and Whitney turbine the plane weighs 16,000 pounds fully loaded.
Helicopters: Categorized by “Types” (1, 2, and 3). Type 1 helicopters (e.g., Black Hawks) handle massive water buckets (up to 1,000–1,200 gallons), while Type 3 helicopters are used for reconnaissance and light cargo. 
Equipment like the K-MAX (CH-NAC), a streamlined, single-pilot helicopter with intermeshing rotors is designed for heavy lifting and logging operations. 
Schroeder highlights a complex but cohesive culture between federal employees and private contractors. 
“Building trust is essential for safety. While there is a clear line regarding contract enforcement and taxpayer stewardship, contractors are treated as part of the ‘fire family’, often wearing the same crew shirts. 
Pilots come from diverse backgrounds, including ex- military (Black Hawks), crop dusting (scoopers), and utility work like power pole placement.”
During the Timberjay’s tour, our team observed the mechanical specifics of the scoopers, noting the hydraulic gates for water release and the scoops located in front of the main gear. A brief discussion on the  “adrenaline rush” of the job concluded that the primary draw is the variety of the work—no two days are the same, ranging from single-tree fires to complex cargo missions in the backcountry.