This is historical material “frozen in time”. The website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work.

Honor all wildland firefighters by increasing the number of VLAT slurry bombers contracted to the USFS to protect lives

Created by J.C. on July 03, 2013

It is possible that lack of air support contributed to the death of the 19 firefighters in Arizona because they had not been able to create a fireline in extremely rough terrain with dry and windy conditions. The Granite Mountain Hotshots were successful two weeks before in helping vanquish the Doce Fire in Prescott with full air support and not a home lost. The air tankers were sent to New Mexico to help the Silver Fire. When the Yarnell fire roared to life there was no air support until AFTER the 19 heroes died. Could anyone not believe that with a bombardment of slurry that fire might not have been so disastrous? There are only 2 Very Large Air Tankers (VLATs) to protect the entire U.S. The smaller slurry bombers are aging. Please help the USFS get access to more air support!

Energy & Environment
Rural Policy
Return to top