FEINSTEIN SEEKS FIREFIGHTING PLANES FOR FOREST SERVICE

January 2, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--During the past ten years, the U.S. Forest Service’s fleet of firefighting planes has dropped from 44 aircraft to just eight planes.

Now California’s Senator Dianne Feinstein has added language into the Defense Bill that would double the current fleet size to 16 planes – still far short of a decade ago.

Her amendment would transfer seven surplus HC-130H Hercules planes from the Coast Guard to the Forest Service.  Senator Feinstein called this a “critical step to help address our ability to defend forests and communities” following devastating wildfires this year including the Rim Fire in Yosemite National Park. 

San Diego’s Supervisors have recently approved a resolution supporting transfer of the planes.

The bipartisan measure is cosponsored by Senator John McCain of Arizona, who says that Congress needs to do even more to protect lives and property.