Smoke partially cleared over the Bear Fire allowing air support for ground crews

The Bear Fire has slowed down some, but with smoke finally leaving the area, fire crews now finally getting in the air and attacking from above to help ground crews put out the fire.

Percent contained.

The bear fire has slowed down some, but with smoke finally leaving the area.

Action news now reporter esteban reynoso shows how fire crews now finally getting in the air and attacking from above helps crews put out the fire on the ground.

"it's essentially a cliffside, where we're standing right now is actually some of the flatter terrain, and it's still up and down."

Fire crews here on forbestown resevoir rd came into the area to clear debris and put out any remaining hot spots.

"but you get down into these canyons and it is really really steep.

I mean it's virtually impossible just to walk up these hillsides, it's so steep."

In terrain like this where fire crews are faced with steep cliffs and loose rocks, what they rely on are the air drops to cool the area so ground crews can come in and put the fire out.

Although the fire fight starts from above, it's nearly impossible for air support to fly when the smoke is so low to the ground.

"these pilots are extremely professional, they're very very good at their jobs.

They can do things that most pilots can never think of doing.

But as some of the smoke moved out of the area, tankers were able to drop some much needed fire retardant on the fire.

"they know the abilities of their aircraft."

Tanker flying overhea* and at the heli base at chico airport helicopter whirlin* they know how crucial air support is.

But -- "if we can't see we can't fly.

Up on the fire there's a lot of obstacles, a lot of steep terrain, trees and power lines, all kinds of things to avoid and if we can't see that it's really hard to avoid in the aircraft."

"we count on our air resources to be able to get in their and make drops and cool the fire off.

Give them a chance to get in their, but it doesn't always happen when it's smokey like this."

Now this massive helicopter is not flying right now because of the smoke, but soon once the weather clears up, it's fully available and can hold up to 2,000 gallons of water.

In chico, esteban reynoso for action news now, coverage you can count on."

Air tankers like the one you just saw can carry up to 12-hundred gallons of fire retardant per drop.