After significant lobbying by the Newsom administration, Congress last week authorized and hastened the transfer of seven United States Coast Guard-owned C-130 aircraft to CAL FIRE, for California’s use in fighting wildfires.
“These are aircraft that can mobilize quickly and attack wildfires to better protect our communities,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said. “This was a collaborative effort with our partners Sen. Padilla, the late Sen. Feinstein, and others to deliver for Californians.”
All that remains is for President Joe Biden to sign an associated bill into law – the National Defense Reauthorization Act – and the planes will be transferred to the state. They have been a sticking point for years, and not the first time Congress has asked the U.S. Air Force to convert surplus aircraft into firefighting tankers for California. That request never materialized into action, though.
California noted that as a result of this bill, the first of the seven planes could likely be ready in time for the height of the 2024 fire year. Wildfires have become increasingly common and disastrous throughout California and the western U.S. as climate change has worsened in recent years.
California will become sole owner of these aircraft, which will be used to expand CAL FIre’s overall firefighting capabilities. The state already boasts the largest firefighting fleet on earth out of necessity, and the new plans will be located strategically throughout the state at various CAL Fire bases to be mobilized as needed. In this, they will join other aircraft and helicopters for the job.