Support WBURFirefighting Planes Battle Wildfires And Old AgePlay03:33Download AudioScott GrafJuly 01, 2012 ShareA firefighting air tanker drops fire retardant on the Tea Fire in Montecito, Calif. in 2008. In 2000, The U.S. Forest Service had contracts for 43 air tankers. These days, that number is only nine. (Getty Images)
