In a Denver Post article dated 29 January 2013, U.S. Sen. Mark Udall, D-Eldorado Springs, says delays in upgrading the U.S. Forest Service fleet of firefighting aircraft are unacceptable. In a letter released Monday, Udall tells Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, whose department oversees the Forest Service, the planes are urgently needed before the start of the 2013 wildfire season.
Udall says 2012 legislation authorized the Forest Service to acquire up to eight new tanker planes to drop retardant on wildfires.
Separately, Udall is also asking the military to speed up the transfer of up to seven surplus cargo planes to the Forest Service for firefighting duty.
Sen. Mark Udall seeks to speed acquisition of firefighting equipment
Someone is trying to shake the tree… Good luck! I mean it.