SEAT plane on duty at Valentine’s Miller Field

The two seater SEAT plane has been housed at Valentine’s Miller Field since the end of April. The plane can drop 800 gallons of retardant to help control the fire’s movement. SEAT Base manager Justin Nickless said it’s a coordinated effort with firefighters on the ground as to where the retardant is dropped. Photos by Laura Vroman

Freezing overnight temperatures are of concern for the pumps and hoses at the SEAT Base at Valentine’s Miller Field. This year they brought the base on at the end of April which still had some chilly temperatures.

Tanks, hoses, and the SEAT plane are contained in a specified area of Miller Field. Heidi Stoeppler is a loader for the plane, and is from Madison, SD.

Above is a 1967 retrofitted crane helicopter that was used in the St. Francis, SD fire. Notice the middle part is missing - that’s on purpose. The bladder that holds 3,000 gallons of water can be removed so a lifting mechanism can be installed, and the helicopter can then lift heavy objects such as an air conditioning unit on a high rise, or transmission lines. Photos by Laura Vroman

At right, after filling with water through its syphon hose, this helicopter from Billings, headed into thunderheads to help with the fire in St. Francis, SD.