October 2018
Problem of the Month

The 416 Fire



At one point in the summer of 2018, the 416 Fire had burned 32,959 acres near Durango, Colorado.   Mike Nelson, the weatherman from Channel 7 News in Denver was predicting one inch of rain for the area and stated that one inch of rain would result in 27,154 gallons of water per acre.   He mentioned that the DC-10 Air Tanker had been fighting the fire, and that the plane carries up to 12,000 US gallons (45,000 liters) of water or fire retardant.

If the fire area did receive one inch of rain, how many air drops would that be equivalent to with the DC-10 Tanker?


Solution to the Problem:

It would take 74,580 drops by the DC-10 Tanker.

Take 32,959 acres x 27,154 gallons/acre = 894,968,686 gallons of water.

Then divide this number by 12,000 gallons that the DC-10 Tanker can carry to get 74,580 drops.



Correctly solved by:

1. James Alarie Flint, Michigan
2. Ivy Joseph Pune, Maharashtra, India
3. Michael Stoll Mountain View High School,
Mountain View, Wyoming
4. Kaley St. Peter Delta High School,
Delta, Colorado
5. Brijesh Dave Mumbai City, Maharashtra, India
6. Caleb Frazier Delta High School,
Delta, Colorado
7. Frankie Jenkins Mountain View High School,
Mountain View, Wyoming
8. Ruger Hewitt Mountain View High School,
Mountain View, Wyoming
9. Briggin Bluemel Mountain View High School,
Mountain View, Wyoming
10. Rob Miles Northbrook, Illinois
11. Amy Abell Murfreesboro, Tennessee
12. Sierra Toomer Mountain View High School,
Mountain View, Wyoming
13. Macy Rinker Mountain View High School,
Mountain View, Wyoming
14. Ashlee Rudy Mountain View High School,
Mountain View, Wyoming
15. Cortlin Condos Mountain View High School,
Mountain View, Wyoming
16. Jenna Sutliff Delta High School,
Delta, Colorado
17. Haylee Curry Delta High School,
Delta, Colorado
18. Abigail Turk Delta High School,
Delta, Colorado
19. Trevor Whiteside Delta High School,
Delta, Colorado
20. Berenice Rascon Delta High School,
Delta, Colorado
21. Ryan Cooper Delta High School,
Delta, Colorado
22. Missa Webb Delta High School,
Delta, Colorado
23. Joseph Bules Delta High School,
Delta, Colorado
24. Alyssa Rippetoe Mountain View High School,
Mountain View, Wyoming
25. Lynette Arias Delta High School,
Delta, Colorado


Send any comments or questions to: David Pleacher