U.S. Reps. David G. Valadao (R-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Mark Amodei (R-NV), John Curtis (R-UT) and Doug Lamborn (R-CO) recently introduced the Emergency Wildfire Fighting Technology Act, which would bolster firefighting technology initiatives.
The legislation evaluates and updates deployment protocols for Containerized Aerial Fire Fighting Systems (CAFFS). Atmospheric rivers are expected to result in intense growth and an increased amount of tree branches and trees on the ground, fueling fires later into the season.
“California’s wildfires have devastated homes, businesses, communities, and ecosystems throughout our state,” Valadao said. “Ahead of wildfire season, we need to ensure our firefighters are equipped with the most up-to-date technology to combat and contain these fires in a quicker, more efficient way.”
Valadao maintains the Emergency Wildfire Fighting Technology Act would provide ground crews with dependable cover from the air, which enables deployment of airdrop-capable disposable containers for water or fire retardant, representing an advancement increasing the number of available airlift assets for wildfire emergencies.
“In recent years, we’ve watched growingly intense wildfires destroy entire communities, taking lives and leaving homes and businesses in ashes,” Costa said. “We need to adapt the way we combat these threats and invest in tools like aerial firefighting technology to suppress wildfires. I’m hopeful this legislation can help better protect our communities.”