CAL FIRE writes USFS Chief Tidwell

When I reported yesterday about recent news affecting aerial wildland firefighting I forgot one thing. That is, I forgot to mention that Ken Pimlott, director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) wrote a letter to Chief Tidwell, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) with his reservations about the USFS's current air tanker strategy. For some of you, this may be old news, but it is important, so I will spend a little time here on Pimlott's letter. I first read about this letter in the Firebomber Publication Blog on March 15 where I was able to download a copy of the letter. A few days later, I saw that Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today reported on this letter on Tues. March 20, 2012, also including a copy of this letter in his article.

Speaking of the size of the federal tanker fleet and its affect on CAL FIRE, Ken Pimlott (CAL FIRE) says:

The reduction in the number of federal air tankers from 43 in 2000 to 11 in 2011, has resulted in significant impacts . . . placing an increasing burden on CAL FIRE aircraft to respond to fires on National Forest Lands. Initial and extended attack fires on federal lands are increasing the flight hours on CAL FIRE's air tankers and reducing their availability for response to new fires.

Bill Gabbert has a nice short commentary about Pimlott's letter in his article of Tues. March 20, 2012. In addition, you might want to read this commentary from the Press-Enterprise on how the reduction in the federal tanker fleet could affect California, you will find the P-E article (dated 3/23/12) here.