Colorado Senator Mark Udall met with a dozen fire chiefs in Frisco, Colorado (map) on Sunday. Following the 2012 wildfire season which was the busiest in recent memory the group had a lot to talk about on the subjects of preparedness, fire prevention, and the availability of aviation resources. Senator Udall has been vocal in pressuring the U.S. Forest Service to increase and modernize the federal air tanker fleet, which has been cut to 9, down from the 44 that were on exclusive use contracts in 2012.
The U.S. Forest Service began the process of contracting for “next generation air tankers” November 30, 2011, and 15 months later still has not completed the process. No large air tankers, next generation or 50-year-old legacy aircraft, are on federal contract right now, in spite of the fact that they usually begin coming on duty in the Southwest in mid-February.
The video below summarizes the meeting with the fire chiefs and includes some highlights of the 2012 fire season in Colorado.
The up side of the budget downside is that it is much more likely that the USAF C-27J’s will be declared excess property. If the Coast Guard picks them up, then their HU-144’s will be declared excess. Either way, some pretty good low time aircraft will probably become available.
Udall is getting “photo op” time, hopefully he will turn it into some “bill time” in the senate.
OPERATION RUN SCARED 2013! While the local sheriff or fire departments and districts are attempting to determine who to send to a 9-1-1 report of a wildfire or a potential threat (structure or vehicle) to the wildlands (and those living in it) “pull the pin” every time. Establish a R.A.C.O. center that doesn’t go out to lunch during the heat of the day. Have in place an air program that WITHIN fifteen minutes of a REPORT, with associated fire weather/ fuel conditions, a water,foam, gel or retardant aviation asesst (s) yes, even two or more is/are working the fire. As proven time and time again, if you have to go outside that fifteen minute initial attack time window for aviation assests in all probablity you have already lost the battle. Where do we get the money to put such a program (like Cal Fire) in place. Forget it, it will probably rain all summer in Colorado.
I hope you’re right….Rain all summer in Colorado would be welcome by almost everyone!