Governor Schwarzenegger Had Cancelled Some Contracts For Budget Savings

With several wildfires raging in California, threatening to destroy hundreds of homes around the state, Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger's decision to cancel some contract for aerial firefighting equipment is being called into question, but the state is still spending money on short-term contracts with firefighting companies in an effort to save lives and homes.

The Los Angeles Times reports that Schwarzenegger cancelled a contract for a DC-10 firefighting tanker, saving taxpayers $7 million, but is now operating on a short-term 90 day contract for the same aircraft at about $43,000 per day in northern California. The Station fire near Los Angeles continues to grow, having at least doubled over the past two days, and the DC-10 was fighting that fire as well.

Photo By John Livzey

This photograph sent to ANN shows an Aero Union Orion P3 dropping flame retardant near a home in Southern California. The California Firefighting Aviation Division reports more than 104 thousand acres have burned in the state since August 21st. There are currently 56 helicopters and 11 fixed-wing aircraft engaged in fighting those fires. The CAL FIRE emergency response air program includes 23 Grumman S-2T 1,200 gallon airtankers, 11 UH-1H Super Huey helicopters, and 14 OV-10A airtactical aircraft. From 13 air attack and nine helitack bases located statewide, aircraft can reach most fires within 20 minutes.

FMI: www.fire.ca.gov