Firefighting aircraft tracker
Watch the air tankers, helicopters, and lead planes working America’s wildfires — live and free. We surface low-flying aircraft over the largest active fires from public ADS-B data, with firefighting assets highlighted. No app, no signup.
Active firefighting aircraft
Air tankers, scoopers, helitankers, and lead planes flying over active U.S. wildfires right now — identified from live public ADS-B by callsign and aircraft type. Not an official dispatch source.
Aircraft are identified as firefighting from public ADS-B callsigns and type codes and may occasionally be imperfect. Positions carry a short delay. Data: airplanes.live + NIFC. For awareness only — not an official aviation or dispatch source.
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Firefighting aircraft tracker FAQ
How can I track firefighting aircraft?
This page shows low-flying aircraft currently over the largest active U.S. wildfires, using public ADS-B position data. Air tankers, helicopters, and lead planes are highlighted based on their callsign and aircraft type. It updates automatically about once a minute — no app or signup required.
What aircraft fight wildfires?
Wildfire air operations use large air tankers (DC-10, BAe-146, C-130, MD-87), scoopers like the CL-415 “Super Scooper,” single-engine air tankers (SEATs), helicopters from light ships to the S-64 Skycrane and CH-47 Chinook, plus lead planes and air-attack/ATGS aircraft that coordinate drops. Many show up here when they’re working a fire.
Is this an official source?
No. Firefighting status is inferred from public ADS-B callsigns and aircraft types and may be imperfect, and positions carry a short delay. It’s for situational awareness only — for official incident and aviation information, follow the incident’s managing agency, InciWeb, and your local authorities.
Why don’t I see any aircraft right now?
Aerial firefighting generally runs in daylight and pauses overnight, in high winds, or in heavy smoke that limits visibility. If no major fires have active air operations at the moment, the tracker will be empty — check back during daylight hours of an active incident.
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