Washington’s Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz spoke at a demonstration of the 747 Supertanker March 23, 2021 at Moses Lake, Washington.Washington’s Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz has been outspoken recently about the need for her state to have adequate resources to prevent and suppress wildland fires. She is supporting a bill before the Legislature that would appropriate $125 million over the next two years and create long-term, dedicated funding for wildfire response, forest restoration, and community resilience.
From the Herald:
That $125 million investment includes:
$70.8 million for wildfire response, including hiring 100 additional firefighters and boosting the agency’s response to nearly 400,000 acres that current is unprotected; two new fixed-winged aircraft; upgrades and maintenance of the agency’s Vietnam-era Huey helicopters; and infrared and night-vision technology for fire detection work;
$35.7 million to fully fund the 20-year forest health plan for thinning and other work on 1.25 million acres of forest; grants and surplus vehicles to local fire districts and departments, as well as funding for training, equipment and personnel; and $1.2 million for workforce development for education and training, to bring forest-related jobs to communities throughout the state; and
$19.6 million to be spent at the community level to develop and implement programs for firebreaks, prescribed burns, creation of defensible green space and help for homeowners to protect homes and properties.
On Tuesday Commissioner Franz was at Moses Lake, Washington to see a demonstration water drop by the 747 Supertanker. The aircraft has been there for several weeks for routine maintenance and an upgrade to its drop system which is powered by compressed air.
She envisions state and federal funding sources to combine so that the 19,200-gallon air tanker can be based at Grant County International Airport at Moses Lake, which she described as “an unbelievably perfectly situated place” and could be a hub for firefighting aircraft to serve several states and British Columbia. She wrote on Twitter Wednesday, “If we get the federal and state resources we need, we can keep this plane based in Washington.” And on Tuesday, “This aircraft is a strategic wildland firefighting asset for the nation, and its home base in Moses Lake will allow it to fight fires in Washington and the entire West Coast.”
Washington has 11 UH-1H helicopters, a fleet acquired through the Federal Excess Property Program.
In an interview in 2019 Commissioner Franz talked about their aviation program. She believes in aggressive initial attack and keeping fires small:
“Helicopters are number one in initial attack and being able to get on top of fires quickly, get them contained, and help our firefighters get in safely… And then we can put the fire out and move on to the next one.”
7 Comments
There is little doubt that the era of the VLAT air tankers have arrived. Although the Forest Service was reluctant to approach the use of VLATs (DC 10’s only so far). C.D.F (Cal Fire) saw the future of not only quick initial attack air tankers (S2) but the need to apply retardant in larger quantifies still within the initial attack/extended attack period. Washington State should look at their budget and determine what would be available for a “stand alone” air tanker program. Maybe a 747 is in their future?
Once again, I can’t help but think that it’s odd that the bigger the air tankers get, the bigger the fires get. I know that there are many other factors involved, but it’s just weird. When fires get big, all the VLATs available don’t do much (if the visibility is good, they can protect structures). When there are multiple large fires across the west, air tankers are stretched thin, it doesn’t matter if you have 18 or 40. It’s good to think that the 747 would be available in WA, but unless they put it on an EU contract for themselves (which isn’t practical) then they can’t count on it to be there. Local IA is the key, with aircraft close by and dispatched along with IA ground resources is the model for success, unless there is more than one fire, then all bets are off, as we all know. Many areas plan for that, but quickly get overwhelmed when that lightning bust comes in. Most areas are successful with IA, if they include timely aircraft response, but weather and fuel conditions are the wildcard.
Preaching to the choir, I’m sure, but you can’t just say that more VLATS will save the day.
Take away all aircraft, especially tankers of any size. Then ask yourself this:
Will fires still get bigger?
Then ask yourself what else is going on? (Hint: Fuel, fuel moisture and weather/drought)
I did mention that weather and fuel conditions are the wildcard, and the fact that the fires are getting bigger even though air tankers are getting bigger, is tongue in cheek, but true! Of course, most fires would get bigger without ac, but some fires are going to get bigger no matter how much ac you throw at it (there’s a limit that aerial supervisors can effectively manage).
On the flip side, a lot of fires would be smaller if ICs would use ac effectively, and not make them bigger on purpose.
“but you can’t just say that more VLATS will save the day”. Especially true with the shortage of leadplane pilots this coming season (since VLATs require a Lead aircraft to drop). I’d say the state of WA should put all and any budget windfall into fuels reduction and hiring as many ground firefighters as possible. Skip the 747 and aquisition of other aircraft for now…
The State of Washington has six Fire Bosses on contract. That is a good start if an evolving wildfire is going to be stopped with helitack and ground resources. All fires are not containable in the first burning periods. Attempt to “share” air tankers in the past has not been hugely successful. So back to the budget; more engines, dozers, helicopters with helitack crews, air tankers SEAT’s to VLATS?
As an AOBD I always have a good chuckle when I hear politicians talking about aircraft and fire.
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