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Wildfires have devastated Los Angeles County, killing at least 13 people, destroying over 12,000 structures, and displacing tens of thousands of residents. As of this writing, the Palisades Fire has burned 22,660 acres and is only 11% contained, with evacuation orders in place for Brentwood, Encino, Malibu, and other areas. Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire in Altadena and Pasadena has scorched nearly 14,000 acres, damaging over 7,000 structures.
Amid the chaos, the skies above Los Angeles have been filled with the heroes of this battle—firefighting aircraft. The CL-415 “Super Scooper,” leased from Quebec each fire season, can scoop up 1,600 gallons of water in seconds. Helicopters from Cal Fire, the U.S. Forest Service, and even Navy MH-60S Seahawks hover above the Santa Monica Mountains, making daring drops to slow the spread of flames. The logistics involved in coordinating this aerial assault in urban air space are mind-boggling.
This afternoon, while glued to my phone for updates, I found out that one of these pilots has a unique connection to NASCAR. How freaking cool is that?
NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver Garrett Smithley’s Dad Is A Pilot Fighting Fires From Above
NASCAR driver Garrett Smithley, 32, who competes full-time in the Xfinity Series in the No. 14 Chevrolet Camaro, has been sharing videos of his father piloting a Tanker 10 DC-10 Air Tanker, one of the massive planes used to combat wildfires.
Smithley’s dad, RK Smithley, notes in his Instagram bio that he’s a DC-10 Fire Bomber Captain for 10 Tanker, a private aerial firefighting fleet based out of Albuquerque. RK Smithley’s Instagram is filled with shots of 10 Tanker’s work battling fires around the American West, recently noting his arrival in San Bernardino to battle the Los Angeles fires.
On Instagram, one person tagged Garrett Smithley and noted that “Garrett Smithley has the most badass dad in NASCAR,” sharing a KTLA news video of Smithley’s old man dousing water on the Pallisades fire with a DC-10 Air Tanker.
via Instagram
Over X, Smithley proudly shared a video of his dad’s drop:
There he his! Nice drop 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 https://t.co/Yyovp7L69J
— Garrett Smithley (@GarrettSmithley) January 11, 2025
Garrett’s followers and fans chimed in, rooting for his dad as well.
Tell your dad nice drop @GarrettSmithley ❤️ He’s a badass . pic.twitter.com/cwet1vBNhg
— Shannon Roe (@furluvcats) January 11, 2025
All I can say is… hell yeah!
This stuff is straight-up incredible—like watching real-life superheroes in action. Pilots like Smithley’s dad are risking their lives to battle these infernos. It feels like the whole city is behind them, cheering for their skill and bravery as we watch updates on the news and social media. It’s like rooting for your team during a high-stakes game, but the stakes here are so much significantly higher.
I live about six miles from the southern perimeter of the Palisades Fire, and it’s been nerve-wracking watching conditions shift so rapidly, wondering if the flames will push deeper into west Los Angeles or even jump the 405. I’ve been glued to Flight Radar 24, tracking helicopters and planes as they drop water and fire retardant with stunning precision, working tirelessly to keep the blaze away from densely populated neighborhoods. Watching these pilots in action isn’t just inspiring—it’s humbling. We’re all rooting for these real-life heroes, and honestly, it’s so much more moving than any fictional superhero taking down villains on the big screen.
The DC-10: A Game-Changer in the Battle Against Wildfires
RK Smithley works for 10 Tanker Air Carrier, which operates a fleet of four DC-10-30 aircraft specifically modified for aerial firefighting. According to 10 Tanker’s fact sheet on their website, these planes, originally commercial passenger jets, have been retrofitted to carry and deploy up to 9,400 gallons of fire retardant in just four seconds. With three main tanks and a fairing tank system, these aircraft release retardant at altitudes of 200–300 feet above ground level and speeds of 140 knots, providing exceptional coverage for wildfire containment. Each tanker’s mission involves cruising to fire zones at 300–350 knots and returning to base at speeds up to 380 knots.
10 Tanker Air Carrier’s fact sheet notes that its fleet of DC-10 tankers are supported by a team of seven maintenance technicians to remain ready for action. Each aircraft weighs between 390,000 and 420,000 pounds when fully loaded with fuel and retardant. The DC-10s are powered by three CF6-50 engines, each delivering 51,800 pounds of thrust.
The company, founded in 2002, says that these tankers have revolutionized aerial firefighting with their precision and capacity. They also note their reputation for safety, innovation, and efficiency, providing a critical tool in combating wildfires across the globe.
As for Garrett Smithley, who’s no stranger to high-speed, high-pressure situations in the NASCAR XFINITY series, his dad’s work has to be the ultimate inspiration. It’s so damn heartwarming to see him rooting for him, as all Angeleos are for these pilots, saving lives and homes from destruction.
Tracking @Ten_Tanker today. Tanker 912 (Dad) just made another drop north of LA pic.twitter.com/PrBRig38l3
— Garrett Smithley (@GarrettSmithley) January 10, 2025
Anyway, a big shout out to RK Smithley and his team at 10 Tanker, along with the scores – maybe even hundreds? – of other pilots in the skies over Los Angeles doing what they can to get things under control from all their various response agencies.
Y’all are heroes. And those of us on the ground will rise to the occasion, and make sure we never let you forget it for saving our beloved city from complete destruction.
A shout out to all the heroes of the sky fighting the LA Fires. pic.twitter.com/2x05nsY5sI
— sonofabench (@therealmrbench) January 10, 2025