June 08, 2006

Dear Bill,

We write today on the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the Hayman Fire, to call upon you to expand Colorado’s initial air attack capabilities for fighting wildfires during what potentially could be one of the worst fire seasons in Colorado history. We know you will agree, our state must improve our current capabilities so that we may find ourselves more prepared than we were during the 2002 Fire Season. Instead, we find ourselves in the dire position of having less initial air attack capability under Colorado’s direct control than we had in the two prior fire seasons. On this dreadful anniversary date, we ask you to take action.

We would ask that you immediately declare a State of Emergency to make additional Federal and State funds available at once. The urgency for this action comes in light of the fire reported Monday in Huerfano County; and the fact that we have already had Red Flag Warnings for parts of Colorado issued by National Weather Service with a severe one issued yesterday morning for virtually the entire western slope.

Specifically, we call upon you to see that at least one heavy lift helicopter be placed into service in the state that is under Colorado’s direct control to assist the three single engine air tankers we already have. We would also ask that you request, if you have not already done so, that our three single engine tankers and the heavy lift helicopter be removed from federal rotation. T hey should not be pulled out of the State of Colorado for interstate fire fighting duties leaving Colorado unprotected if our severity coverage-needs become urgent.

Sadly, it may already be too late in the fire season for Colorado to contract for additional resources. If we can’t contract for the heavy lift helicopter needed to supplement our initial attack capabilities, we should explore all possibilities to find the necessary funding to acquire the firefighting helicopter equipment we desperately need.

The safety of our citizens is the number one function of our government and we know you share the desire to keep our initial wildfire attack capabilities as one of our state’s highest priorities. Thank you in advance for your immediate attention to this critical matter.

Sincerely,
Tom J. Wiens, Ken Kester, Greg Brophy, Lewis H. Entz, Ron Teck & Steve Johnson