A bill passed in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday night would allow for easier access of planes for firefighting. Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) is in full support of the bill.
The Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act allows for the Department of Defense to sell its excess planes and parts for wildfire efforts.
“Strengthening our aerial firefighting fleet by making more aircraft and parts available is a smart, proven way to help firefighters respond faster and keep communities safe,” Kelly said in a press release. “I’m proud to support this effort to ensure the tools are in place to meet the growing threat, and I'll keep working to get it done.”
The legislation would allow for the sale of military aircraft and parts commercially on the condition that the company or individual is contracted with the government to help fight wildfires and the machine is only used for wildfire suppression.
“Californians saw firsthand the power of our aerial wildfire suppression fleet in putting out the Los Angeles fires as quickly as possible,” said U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) in a press release. “Shoring up aerial firefighting fleets by allowing the Department of Defense to sell excess aircraft parts is a lifesaving, commonsense priority — and I’m glad to see the Senate come together to unanimously pass this bipartisan legislation.”
This act amended the Wildfire Suppression Aircraft Transfer Act of 1996.
“It’s only April, and this year has already seen the most dangerous and expensive wildfire season in history,” said U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Montana) said in a press release. “It’s clear our government must do more to give wildland firefighters the tools they need to protect communities and save lives.”
The bill still needs to go through the House and be signed by the president before it becomes law.
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The Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act was introduced by Democratic California Senator Adam Schiff and Republican Utah Senator John Curtis. If passed, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other federal officials would have one year to develop a plan to make "commercially available appropriate respiratory personal protective equipment for wildland firefighters and supporting staff in settings in which smoke exposure surpasses covered permissible exposure limits."
