Aerial firefighters provide crucial element to put out Oregon’s major wildfires, including the Wiley Flat Fire

Matthew Draxton will share a report on NewsChannel 21 at Five

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- With the Wiley Flat Fire already having burned nearly 16,000 acres, one of dozens of major wildfires burning across the region and state, the Redmond Air Center has seen a very busy fire season, a key spot for the aerial firefighting efforts.

Montana-based Neptune Aviation Services is one of the federal contractors helping to battle the Wiley Flat Fire. Their pilots are dropping many loads of fire retardant, to give firefighters on the ground more time to contain and extinguish the flames.

Matthew Draxton is speaking Thursday with an aerial firefighter about how their work in the skies complements ground efforts, the challenges faced during such operations and the impact it has on containing wildfires.

He'll also look into the coordination required and the importance of rapid "initial attack" response in these critical situations, often stopping fires before they grow large.

His report will be on NewsChannel 21 at Five.