With more than 40% of the Ross Fire yet to be contained, firefighters are getting help from above and from community volunteers supporting crews on the ground. Bridger Aerospace has dropped more than 350,000 gallons of water on the Ross Fire and counting, helping cool the flames so ground crews can move in. “We actually put water right on the fire and get cool that out. So ground crews can get in there and put that fire out,” said Mel Holtz with Bridger Aerospace. Aircraft were actively scooping water out of Possum Kingdom and making continuous cycles over the fire, Holtz said. TEXAS WILDFIRES weather Aug 7, 2022 Aerial Attack: What It Takes to Fight Texas Wildfires From the Sky Aug 9, 2022 The Push for a Permanent Air Tanker Base in Texas “They’re actually actively up flying right now, scooping out Possum Kingdom. So they’ll be on that lake for about eight to 12 seconds. Scoop up 1412 gallons of water and basically do continuous cycles on that fire,” Holtz said. On the ground, a local church has become a resource hub for firefighters, offering three warm meals a day, first aid basics, gloves and other supplies. Volunteer Jennifer Sells Smith and her family had just been evacuated when she drove to the church with a case of water. She never imagined that donations would help turn the church assembly room into a place supporting firefighters battling the flames. “All the firefighters showed up for us; we were just like, we’re gonna show up for them. We have extra case water in the car,” Smith said. “We live in the country, there’s not gas stations everywhere, like the big cities. I mean, so even just being able to find food out here,” she said. Beyond food and supplies, the church gives firefighters a place to escape the heat and briefly recharge before returning to the fire. “Comfort, being able to get out of their trucks, being able to just be in the AC, being to relax just a little bit,” Smith said. TEXAS WILDFIRE MAPS Some firefighters have left behind thank-you messages displayed on a simple piece of cardboard made by the volunteers. “After two weeks of doing this, we’ve never turned someone away, nor will we,” Smith said. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication. ...read more read less