Santa Maria air tanker base

 

Santa Maria Airport mapThe staffing of the Santa Maria air tanker base in southern California, first covered HERE on Wildfire Today, has generated a lot of controversy. The U.S. Forest Service has issued statements and news releases, some of them confusing, saying they are going to cease staffing the base during fire season except on a call when needed basis. Their plans are to rely on CalFire’s Paso Robles air tanker base which is 58 air miles north of Santa Maria.

The Santa Maria Times has an article that provides more details HERE. [UPDATE 11-9-2011: The article has been removed]

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