Firefighters battling a roughly 300‑acre blaze west of Phoenix are working on the ground and from the air as drought conditions intensify the fire. But beyond weather and terrain, soaring fuel prices are adding a new burden by increasing the cost of aviation assets that often arrive first to drop water and retardant.
Large air tankers — for example DC‑10s that can carry nearly 10,000 gallons — and smaller single‑engine or multi‑engine retardant planes play a critical early role. Operating costs vary widely: smaller aircraft typically run $3,000–$4,000 per hour, while the biggest tankers can cost $25,000–$30,000 per hour. Those hourly rates climb when jet fuel spikes: officials cited a more than 65% jump in jet fuel over a recent two‑month period, which translates directly into higher hourly operating bills because large tankers burn hundreds of gallons per hour.
Paul Petersen, executive director of the United Aerial Firefighters Association, emphasized that those consumption rates make aviation costs substantial and that taxpayers ultimately absorb the expense. Federal figures underscore the impact: the U.S. Forest Service spent over $52 million on aviation fuel last year, while its current fuel budget is about $45 million. The agency says fuel price increases will not compromise its ability to respond to fires.
In California, jet fuel has topped $10 per gallon at some airports. CAL FIRE is taking steps to stretch resources by using flight simulators to reduce unnecessary hours in the air and by prepositioning aircraft statewide to keep response times short. Officials call maintaining aircraft availability a “non‑negotiable” public safety priority; Petersen warned that failing to deploy air support when needed could lead to damage costs in the hundreds of millions or even billions.
This is not limited to the West: wildfires are active nationwide, from Nebraska to Florida, and higher fuel costs are pushing up overall firefighting expenditures across jurisdictions and agencies.