DENVER – A 747 supertanker based in Colorado Springs flew to Israel last week to help with firefighting efforts in the Middle Eastern country. The plane returned to Colorado Wednesday.
Israel was battling several wildfires that forced tens of thousands of people from their homes. All major fires have been extinguished.
Fire Aviation reports that the 19,200-gallon air tanker took off from Colorado Springs Thursday. The 12-hour non-stop flight put the 12-person crew in Tel Aviv on Nov. 25.
Video posted on Twitter shows the tanker drop slurry on a wildfire burning northwest of Jerusalem on Saturday.
The US #supertanker took off on its first mission in Israel. The plane was set to help extinguish the flames near Jerusalem.@IL_police pic.twitter.com/w6sGyYVaVe
— Israel ????? (@Israel) November 26, 2016
The blazes began five days ago and backed by dry, windy weather they later spread elsewhere around the country.
Initial investigations point to the majority of the fires being caused by arson.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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