Texas Wildfires

A U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service King Air lead plane guides a C-130J Hercules from the 146th Airlift Wing during firefighting operations in Scurry County, Texas, April 27, 2011. The lead planes guide aircraft to ensure that the fire retardant is dispensed where it is needed. Wildfires have spread across various parts of Texas and have burned more than 1,000 square miles of land. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Eric Harris)

Texas Wildfires

A wildfire burns in West Texas as fire fighting crews try to contain it, April 27, 2011. Wildfires have spread across various parts of Texas and have burned more than 1,000 square miles of land. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Eric Harris)

Texas Wildfires

Lt. Col. Greg Ervin surveys the Oasis wildfire as his crew prepares to dispense fire retardant April 26, 2011, during firefighting efforts in west Texas. Lt. Col. Ervin is a C-130 Hercules pilot with the California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing. His C-130 is equipped with a Modular Airborne Firefighting System installed to dispense the fire retardant. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Eric Harris)

Texas Wildfires

A U.S. Forest Service King Air lead plane guides a C-130 Hercules from the California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing April 26, 2011, during firefighting operations in Scurry County, Texas. The lead planes guide aircraft equipped to dispense fire retardant to ensure that the retardant is dispensed where it is needed. Wildfires have spread across various parts of Texas and have burned more than 1,000 square miles of land. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Eric Harris)

Texas Wildfires

A U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service King Air lead plane guides a C-130J Hercules from the 146th Airlift Wing during firefighting operations in Scurry County, Texas, April 26, 2011. The lead planes guide aircraft to ensure that the fire retardant is dispensed where it is needed. Wildfires have spread across various parts of Texas and have burned more than 1,000 square miles of land. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Eric Harris)

Texas Wildfires

Airmen from California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing, North Carolina Air National Guard's 145th Airlift Wing and Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd Airlift Wing and members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forestry Service conduct their morning briefing during firefighting operations at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, April 21, 2011. The Airmen maintain and operate the Modular Airborne Firefighting System(MAFFS) housed aboard a C-130 Hercules which is capable of dispensing 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in under 5 seconds. The wildfires have spread across various parts of Texas and have burned more than 1,000 square miles of land. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Eric Harris)