David G. Valadao | Official U.S. House headshot
David G. Valadao | Official U.S. House headshot
WASHINGTON – On June 13, the House Natural Resources Committee advanced Congressman David G. Valadao’s bill, H.R. 3389, the Emergency Wildfire Fighting Technology Act, out of a full committee markup. The bipartisan legislation would dramatically increase the number of available airlift assets for wildfire emergencies by updating deployment protocols for Containerized Aerial Fire Fighting Systems (CAFFS).
“Wildfires have devastated California homes, businesses, and ecosystems – displacing entire communities and destroying critical infrastructure across the state. As we approach fire season, we must ensure our firefighters have every tool available to combat these deadly wildfires and protect our communities,” said Congressman Valadao. “Thank you to Chairman Westerman for his leadership on this critical issue.”
“I fully endorse Representative Valadao's H.R. 3389 because it is a commonsense bill for our continued effort to address devastating wildfires. The bill requires the administration to do its job of seeking new, innovative solutions to suppress forest fires," said House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman. "The wildfire crisis grows with each passing year and we need every tool in the toolbox to fight these fires. I want to thank Representative Valadao for his leadership in this effort and I hope to see the quick passage of this bill through the House.”
Background
Currently, aerial firefighting systems for C-130 planes primarily rely on tanks and compressed air release mechanisms. The introduction of the Containerized Aerial Fire Fighting System overcomes these limitations, allowing for the deployment of airdrop-capable disposable containers for water or fire retardant. This significant advancement dramatically increases the number of available airlift assets for wildfire emergencies. The CAFFS permits safe 24-hour operations, expanding aircraft options and empowering firefighting crews to combat wildfires around the clock, bolstering their ability to swiftly address emergency situations.
Read a one-pager on the bill here.
Read the full text of the bill here.
Original source can be found here.
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