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Air Tankers

An air tanker drops slurry (credit: CBS)

State Tanker Fleet? Wildfires Continue Debate

Colorado lawmakers passed several bills this year to prepare for future fire seasons.

2013/06/12

Forest Service Fallout With Company Could Ground Air Tankers

Sen. Mark Udall of Colorado called on the U.S. Forest Service on Friday to make certain that a contract dispute doesn’t ground large air tankers used to fight wildfires.

2013/05/21

Colorado Firefighting Fleet Moves Forward In Senate

The Colorado Senate gave initial approval to establishing a state firefighting fleet to supplement a fleet managed by the federal government, even though lawmakers have not allocated money for it.

2013/04/24

Colorado Closer To Having Own Air Tanker Fleet

Colorado is a step closer to having its own fleet of air tankers. A state Senate committee approved legislation on Thursday that could dramatically change how the state fights wildfires.

2013/04/11

CBS4 Political Specialist Shaun Boyd demonstrates ads on the tails of air tankers (credit: CBS4)

State Lawmakers Plan To Build Colorado’s Own Firefighting Fleet

Lawmakers in Colorado don’t want to rely on the federal government to provide a firefighting fleet from the air. They want the state to have their own resources when it comes to fighting wildfires.

2013/03/27

An image from the Waldo Canyon Fire (credit: CBS)

2 Lawmakers Want Colorado To Have Its Own Wildfire-Fighting Planes

A plan that could dramatically improve wildfire fights in colorado calls for the state to have its own fleet of air tankers.

2013/03/15

Diana Webb took this photo on June 26 when the Waldo Canyon Fire exploded.

Colorado Officials Continue To Ask For Money For Wildfire Repair

Colorado’s elected officials are still begging for money to help repair the damage from last year’s wildfires.

2013/02/24

Sen. Mark Udall at the meeting (credit: CBS)

Udall Meets With High Country Fire Chiefs To Prepare For Wildfire Season

One Colorado senator wants air tankers to be a more frequent sight during the wildfire season in Colorado and throughout the West, but as of right now, Washington red tape is holding it up.

2013/02/10

Report Says Heavy Air Tankers Not The Best For Fighting Wildfires

The U.S. Forest Service commissioned the report which looked at the cost to buy aerial firefighting tools and the price of maintaining the planes.

2012/07/30

The High Park Fire on June 11 (credit: CBS)

As Wildfires Rage, Modern Tanker Planes Sought

President Barack Obama signed a bill this week hastening the addition of seven large tanker planes to the nation’s rundown aerial firefighting fleet, at a cost of $24 million.

2012/06/14

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