Minden Air Corporation awarded federal contract to supply the U.S. Forest Service with "next generation" air tankers #VLAT

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Minden Air Corporation awarded federal contract to supply the U.S. Forest Service with "next generation" air tankers #VLAT

Forest Service awards ‘next gen’ airtanker contract to Minden Air

A federal contract was awarded Tuesday to Douglas County-based Minden Air Corporation to supply the U.S. Forest Service with "next generation" air tankers that will replace the aging fleet.

Congressman Mark Amodei praised the U.S. Forest Service decision to award Minden Air Corporation the air tankers for wildfire suppression. The Forest Service is transitioning to the next generation air tankers to replace its aging “legacy” fleet.

Legacy aircraft have been part of the Forest Service aviation program, in some cases, for decades. Minden Air is one of two companies the Forest Service contracts for large legacy air tankers.

“I was pleased that the U.S. Forest Service recognized Minden Air’s expertise in this specialized field and that the next generation airtanker transition will proceed,” said Amodei in a press statement. “The addition of these new airtankers is vital as we are down to a core of eight legacy large air tankers at a time when much of the West faces significant fire potential. These planes are an important asset in our efforts to not only protect urban and rural populations, but to preserve sage hen habitat and prevent an endangered species listing.”

Next generation air tankers are turbine powered, can carry a minimum of 3,000 gallons of retardant, and have a cruise speed of at least 300 knots when fully loaded.

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Source: http://carsonnow.org/story/05/07/2013/forest-service-awards-next-gen-airtanker-contract-minden-air

CFN - California Fire News 2013

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States. CDF - CAL FIRE Firefighters answer the call more than 300,000 times a year. CAL FIRE Firefighters make up the fire department for 30 of our 58 counties in California and more than 100 local communities. We serve as the incident command during many of California’s most serious disasters. CAL FIRE Firefighters respond to many various types and forms of calls ranging from structural fires, to auto accidents, to earthquakes, to floods, to the spilling of hazardous materials, to every conceivable disaster; CAL FIRE answer's the calls. CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States . CAL FIRE firefighters protect 33 million acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA). We have over 4,000 members within CAL FIRE and CAL FIRE is associated with the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Wednesday, May 8, 2013