In the wake of the Carmel Fire and the criticism that followed, the Israeli Cabinet is expected to create a National Fire Authority and an aerial firefighting force.
Here is an excerpt from an article at Thaivisa.com:
We are busy with the very quick rehabilitation of the Carmel area,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, adding that the Cabinet is expected to issue a memorandum for a decision next Sunday on the establishment of a national fire authority and an aerial firefighting force. “We will submit budgets for this,” he added.
Having aircraft dedicated to wildfire aviation, or at least being able to quickly covert to be able to fight fire, would reduce their existing response time of days, to minutes or hours. During the Carmel Fire, Israel requested helicopters and air tankers from western Europe and the United States, which is not exactly initial attack.
Approximately 44 firefighters and prison guards died in the 9,000-acre fire in December.
