Earlier today, NASF President Randy Dye sent Senators McCain, Feinstein and Nelson, sponsors of the Wildfire Suppression Aircraft Transfer Act of 2012 (S. 3441) a letter of support on behalf of NASF members. The proposed act will would provide the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) with near-term access to airtankers, while the USDA Large Airtanker Modernization Strategy takes full effect. The letter stressed that the act should not come at the expense of existing USFS programs and activities, but should strengthen and improve the nation’s ability to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildland fires across the U.S.
President Dye emphasized that this year has seen historic fires in terms of size, severity and destruction that have stretched the current federal airtanker fleet and that S. 3441 will ensure the USFS has the resources it needs now.