This is a photo of a Lockheed L-188A converted to a fire bomber. At the time, it had a new tanking system with an adjustable, constant, flow-door arrangement. I had never used one of these before, so I asked the ship's captain what I could expect. Since the fire was, as you can see, rather extensive, I wanted to use the whole load of 3000 U.S. gallons, making it stretch as far as possible while ensuring it would be concentrated enough to halt fire spread. The captain made his recommendation based on the fuel type, and I, to paraphrase myself, said "Give her!"

What you see is a very effective line that seemed, like the Energizer Bunny, to go forever. The shot was taken south of Bistcho Lake, northern Alberta, in 1998.

Fred Paget, photographer