Bridger Aerospace is supporting ground crews by water bombing the West Fork Fire, which ignited earlier this week south of Big Sky and had grown to 650 acres by Thursday afternoon.

The Belgrade-based aerial firefighting company sent two Super Scooper planes on Wednesday that are collecting water from Hebgen Lake to dump on the fire and help prevent its expansion as conditions remain critical.

“When we show up, it’s because it’s necessary and needed,” Sam Davis, Bridger Aerospace’s CEO, told the Chronicle on Thursday. “(Super Scoopers) are very effective at initial or direct attacks on fires to prevent them from becoming something bigger — we pride ourselves on that early response and readiness.”

In photographs shared by Bridger, the West Fork Fire can be seen burning along a ridge just

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