The art and science of fighting wildfires from above

Eric Johnson likens the tool he uses to do his job as "A little like flying an 80-knot shopping cart."

Johnson works for Aero Spray out of Appleton, Minn. and helps crews battle wildfires from the single seat of his Air Tractor AT-802 Fire Boss.

Air Tractor? Guess one can get the picture how these boxy-looking aircraft look like a shopping cart.

Johnson has worked locally in July's Watermelon Hill fire near Fishtrap. He flew to help douse a blaze that torched the hillside below Spokane's High Drive, as well the massive 250,000 acre Carlton Complex in the Methow Valley.

He was a regular out in...