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Post by avordvet on Sept 7, 2011 4:31:41 GMT -5
Contract Dispute Grounds Firefighting Planesby Audrey Hudson, 09/07/2011 Nearly half of the federal government’s firefighting air tankers are siting idle at a California airport, grounded by the Obama administration in a contract dispute just weeks before wildfires swept through Texas killing a mother and her child, and destroying 100,000 acres. The massive blazes forced Texas Gov. and Republican presidential hopeful Rick Perry to abruptly call off a campaign appearance in South Carolina earlier this week to respond to the crisis, and may force him to cancel his first debate appearance Wednesday night. The U.S. Forest Service terminated the contract with Aero Union five weeks ago to operate seven P-3 Orions that are critical to the agency’s firefighting mission, leaving the federal government with 11 tankers under contract to help battle more than 50 large uncontained wildfires now burning nationwide. That’s down from 40 tankers used by the Forest Service just a decade ago, according to Rep. Dan Lungren (R.-Calif.), chairman of the House Committee on Administration, who is challenging the decision to dismiss the largest provider of heavy air-tanker support to the federal government... www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=46009
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Post by smokeeater on Sept 7, 2011 12:37:11 GMT -5
As a firefighter for over 30 years I say keep there govt. planes in Cal. we will adapt as americans always do
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Post by safetalker on Sept 7, 2011 12:49:04 GMT -5
The problem is that these areas are heavily in US FORESTRY controlled areas. They won't allow many outside vehicles in so the fire line moves quickly and when it gets to a private piece of land it is in full blown Storm status. Since they let the Serra Club decide where they can cut trees and undebrush it has been this way across the nation. If I lived in one of these pocket acres by the US Forestry service I would include a hole house that was sod roofed and house underground. That is the only type home that has a chance. I spent a week on a German farm constructed that way. The house and all of the farm building were underground with over top shelters for the animals. When the snow fell or the woods were in danger they moved underground.
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