Copy of Operation Wildefire
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An Open Letter to the Governors of the WGA
June 26, 2013
Honorable Governors:
Presenting, Operation Wildefire
A PROPOSED, MULTI-STATE AIR NATIONAL GUARD, C-130 AIR-TANKER, FOREST FIGHTING TASK FORCE
A new fire-fighting concept, Operation Wildefire, having received an award from the California Resource Board’s Forum for Public Policy was presented to Major General Frank Scoggins (since retired) of the Washington State, Air National Guard. Upon reviewing the concept, General Scoggins extended an invitation to the author to come to Fort Murray in Tacoma WA, to further discuss and evaluate the possibilities of implementing such a proposal. Following the meeting, it was suggested that the plan also be presented to the Major Generals of several western states for comment, which with the General’s help was facilitated.
While millions of acres of our valuable forestlands are destroyed yearly by fire, it seems we are forced to accept what may be an antiquated fire containment protocol and an example, of a “too little too late” policy. We have had to accept the current process as normal, but with all due respect, without an all out, “first strike” air tanker capability, the current process may in fact be anything but normal. Operation Wildefire may therefore, be one concept, borne out of necessity.
THE PROBLEM
It may be argued, the current approach, consisting of helicopter and minimal retardant and water dropping fixed wing aircraft often surrenders valuable time of containment in which a fire gains commanding and unrelenting control.Is it not here, at the outbreak, (particularly in those states with the least amount of resources) that critical time and advantage is so often lost? Many believe, at this early point of containment, too few aircraft are organized and engaged in water and retardant drops. The situation is compounded when the limited number of aircraft is forced to depart the fire scene for refueling or reloading. Is it not here at this early critical stage where common sense would dictate an all out effort be deployed? An effort with adequate resource activated and involved to seize the advantage? Can we as a nation continue to abide the utter destruction of millions of acres of oxygen emitting forestland and the subsequent pollution, loss of timber, private property, human and wild life? There remains as well, the potential threat from those who would engage in a “destruction by fire” scenario. We are as a nation vulnerable to this possibility and perhaps more than ever before. The intent of this proposal is not to diminish the efforts of dedicated men and women of forestry who literally and heroically put their lives on the line year in and year out. Their task is becoming overwhelming and the object here is to seek a solution involving their continued contribution in conjunction with an earlier response from the military. Continuing to lose millions of acres of valuable forestland is not an option.
THE PROPOSED SOLUTION
A MULTI-STATE JOINT AIRBORNE C-130 & OTHER AIRCRAFT TASK FORCE
There is an adequate number of modified retrofitted tanker aircraft positioned on tarmacs of the Air National Guard units in several western states. It is suggested that certain of these units be mobilized and assigned to perform as part of a combined multi-state, airborne taskforce of 8-16 aircraft (to be determined by the National Interagency Aviation Coordinators with crews prepared to engage a fire or multiple fires in one or more states–not unlike the way they would approach a routine bombing mission in time of war. This task force would not require a governor’s implementation of a state of emergency, but perhaps activated at PL3 in coordination with the NASF Fire Director stationed at the National Interagency Fire Center (to be determined). The Guard aircraft could depart from neighboring states to rendezvous with other units arriving at most fires within 2-3 hours. Or a second possibility (suggested by General Scoggins) of having a contingency of tankers and crews from the various states “lent” to the project and positioned at a central, strategic location if only during fire season. A task force at the ready that could be sent to any fire breakout spot in any state and is on target in a matter of hours. Isn’t it here at the outset, where so often thousands and thousands of acres of valuable timberland could in all likelihood, have been saved if enough air response had been organized and made available earlier? The task force could even be comprised of two air tanker squadrons, one from the military and another consisting of civilian air tankers. As General Scoggins had suggested, this advantage could also be taken to any state in the US within hours.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE C 130’S
Major General Scoggins also “brainstormed” the concept with fellow C-130 commanders and crews at an annual meeting at Scotts Air Force Base in Missouri. The support for the concept was (according to the General) very encouraging with the following explanation. The Guard’s involvement with such a project could not conflict with existing regulatory state and federal laws and certainly those governing private industry in regard to the extent of military involvement. It was explained, the Guard serves at the invitation of the governor, state forestry and government. It would appear from the preliminary discussions among the C 130 crews from the various western states represented at the annual meeting, that if they were asked by forestry to perform more of an initial role in concert with the private sector and funding were made available, they would be agreeable to opening dialogue with the governing agencies as to how they might be helpful in providing even more tanker support and at an earlier point in the process.
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OPERATION WILDEFIRE, A FOREST FIGHTING AIR-TANKER Four years ago, the Director of Forest & Range-land Health in Colorado seeing merit in the following proposal aided the author in preparing his proposal for presentation to the 17 Governors of the (Western Governor's Association) annual meeting. Here is Operation Wildefire with the suggestion by the director that a limited pilot program be implemented to assess the possibilities by the following fire season. Would CA be in this current destructive fire season today if this proposal been explored? Operation Wildefire, having received an award from the California Resource Board's Forum for Public Policy was also presented to Major General Frank Scoggins (since retired) of the Washington State, Air National Guard. Upon reviewing the concept, General Scoggins extended an invitation to the author to come to Fort Murray in Tacoma WA to further discuss and evaluate the possibilities of implementing such a proposal. The General suggested that several tankers from adjacent states be "lent" to the project and positioned on a strategically located base during fire season in one of the western states. Following the meeting, it was the General's suggestion that the plan also be presented to the Major Generals of several western states for comment, which with the General's help was facilitated. The response was most favorable. THE PROBLEM While millions of acres of our valuable forestlands are destroyed yearly by fire, it seems we are forced to accept what may be an antiquated fire containment protocol and an example, of a too little too late policy. We have had to accept the current process as normal, but with all due respect, without an all out, first strike air tanker capability, the current process may in fact be anything but normal. Operation Wilde fire may therefore, be one common sense• concept, borne out of necessity. Ideally, if this proposal were accepted in principle by the WGA with details to be addressed over the coming year by the appropriate agencies, a limited pilot program could have been put in place and functional by the coming fire season. The combined effort might well still provide a viable solution to a very complex and costly problem. Here is the proposed solution, Operation Wilde fire. There has been through the years since Operation Wildefire's initial presentation, an adequate number of modified retrofitted tanker aircraft positioned on tarmacs of the Air National Guard units in several western states. The suggestion has been that certain of these units be mobilized and assigned to perform as part of a combined multi-state, airborne taskforce of 8-16 aircraft (to be determined) by the National Interagency Aviation Coordinators with crews prepared to engage a fire or multiple fires in one or more states, not unlike the way the Air Force would approach a routine bombing mission in time of war. This task force would not require a governor's implementation of a state of emergency, but perhaps activated at PL3 in coordination with the NASF Fire Director stationed at the National Interagency Fire Center (to be determined). and returning to their home base. of a state of emergency, but perhaps activated at PL3 in coordination with the NASF Fire Director stationed at the National Interagency Fire Center (to be determined). The Guard aircraft could depart from neighboring states to rendezvous with other units arriving at most fires within hours. Or a second possibility suggested by the General of having a contingency of tankers and crews from the various states"lent" to the project and positioned at a central, strategic location if only during fire season. A task force at the ready that could be sent to any fire breakout spot in any state and is on target in a matter of two or three hours. Isn't it here at the outset, where so often thousands and thousands of acres of valuable timberland could in all likelihood, have been saved if enough air response had been organized and made available earlier? The task force could even be comprised of two air tanker squadrons, one from the military and another consisting of civilian air tankers. It had also been suggested, this advantage could be taken to any state in the US within hours. THE RATIONALE FOR THIS PROGRAM To begin with, the aircraft have already been paid for with tax payer dollars and the cost of maintenance of the aircraft and equipment already budgeted. The salaries of the personnel are also paid, so this might not be an unreasonable proposition to implement, particularly when one considers the cost of the current alternative. The concept was also brainstormed- with fellow C-130 commanders and crews at an annual meeting at Scotts Air Force Base in Missouri. The support for the concept was (according to the General) very encouraging with the following explanation. The Guard's involvement with such a project could not conflict with existing regulatory state and federal laws and certainly those governing private industry in regard to the extent of military involvement. It was explained, the Guard serves at the invitation of the governor, state forestry and government. It would appear from the preliminary discussions among the C 130 crews from the various western states represented at the annual meeting, that if they were asked by forestry to perform more of an initial role in concert with the private sector and funding were made available, they would be agreeable to opening dialogue with the governing agencies as to how they might be helpful in providing even more tanker support and at an earlier point in the process. There are also several other converted air tankers such as the Grumman S-27. DC 6, 7 and DC10's and even a Boeing 747 owned and operated by Calf ire. GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY Very often jurisdictional boundaries and territorial limitations create bureaucratic road-blocks when it would seem that neutralizing the fire in the quickest possible time should be the mandated objective. The Waldo Canyon fire last year in CO, reportedly cost insurers 453.7M,this does not include the actual cost of fighting the fire. What will be the cost again this year for the fires? Many of us can still remember the devastating Oakland Hills fire years ago which cost CA insurers $1.5 billion in property damage? By today's dollar value the cost would have been $2.4 billion. A reasonable question we might ask, if this common sense concept were in place today, might it have already made a difference in containing this year's California fires and at a much earlier time to containment? 2012 Federal Cost of Fire Suppression Only Total Federal Cost (suppression costs) $1,902,446,000 Total number of fires 67,774 Acres burned, 9,326,238
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