There's a new addition to Northern Nevada's aerial firefighting fleet this summer.

A CL-415EAF Super Scooper will be based at the Minden-Tahoe Airport through the end of August. The plane is the latest model in the Super Scooper family of aircraft built in Canada.

"This aircraft is unique in that's it's the only aircraft in the world every to have been designed, built and operated for one purpose, and that's fighting fires," said Tim Sheehy, pilot and CEO of Bridger Aerospace out of Montana. "That's why we've chosen it as the core of our fleet. It's designed and built for one thing: to scoop water and put the wet stuff on the hot stuff."

Bridger brought the plane down here as part of a partnership with the Nevada Division of Forestry this summer.

"The state of Nevada understood that during this era of COVID, the sharing of national firefighting assets around the country was going to be a little more challenging," Sheehy said. "Additionally, there is a historic shortage of aerial firefighting assets in the United States, and Nevada saw the potential of this type of aircraft to provide a very quick impact on these fast-moving desert fires, that we were the perfect asset for the state of Nevada to use."

The plane rolled off the line about a month ago and has already seen plenty of hot spots here in Nevada. It was deployed to the Topsy Fire in Carson City - crews in Minden saw the initial lightning strike and were able to respond within minutes - and to the Cedar Fire near Elko.

"This aircraft is literally a flying boat," Sheehy said. "It comes down and skims the top of the water, the probes in the back scoop the water in only 12 seconds and then you're back on the fire. During the Cedar Fire we were doing just over five-minute turns times, and that's what allowed us to deliver over 100,000 gallons in a single duty day on that fire incident."

Another brand-new scooper should join the ranks in Minden after it finishes FAA certification and trials, as fire season in Northern Nevada continues to heat up.

"So far this year I'd say the fire activity has been relatively low, we thought it would be higher," Sheehy said. "But we are just getting into the height of the season, so I think it will probably start picking up here soon. Fire activity in the Great Basin is typified by brush fires that are fast moving and wind driven, so it's a great environment for this aircraft. It's made to operate in the mountains, at high density altitude, and it's very effective in this environment."

These planes can carry up to 1,500 gallons of water at a time, and air support can be a big force multiplier on these wildfires, making a difference when it comes to containment. And flying them?

"It's a great feeling, it's definitely an adrenaline rush," Sheehy said. "It's great to be doing such a fun job and knowing that your mission is so important in helping people."

For more information on the Super Scooper, visit their website.Â