Fighting fires in a federal wilderness

Factual Questions
1

When a region is declared a federally designated wilderness, structures are removed and new construction of any kind is prohibited. Additionally, mechanical equipment such as chainsaws and motor vehicles are excluded. When there is a forest fire, are aircraft permitted to drop water or flame retardant chemicals?

Within the past few days, a small fire has sprung up at treeline on Mt. Madison in the Great Gulf Wilderness of New Hampshire. According to news reports, fire fighters have only been permitted to bring shovels, picks, axes, and backpacks filled with water into that rugged terrain in hopes of forestalling the fire until rain smothers it. I thought I had read somewhere that aircraft were not allowed to assist in the fight, but I can no longer find a reference to the specific rules. Does anyone know for certain?

2

Yes, it can be fought by air. The only restrictions are you usually cannot land an aircraft in a wilderness area unless there is an old pre-existing landing strip in the wilderness itself.

By the way, most fires, are controlled by hand, with the use of axes, pulaskis and shovels, even in non wilderness land.

The only restrictions regarding the wilderness act is motorized vehicles and anything with a motor ie. chainsaws are not allowed.

Now for the new Mantra: “Fuck Smokey the Bear, Fire is Our Friend.”