Study Identified 130 Mitigation Measures That Need To Be
Addressed Beginning next year the U.S. Forest Service will
contract a helicopter capable of fighting wildfire at night in a
move to strengthen the agency’s capability to suppress fires and
better protect firefighters and communities in Southern
California. “We have made this important decision very
carefully,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “We have
studied night operations from every angle—risk management,
business and operations—and we have concluded we can conduct
night operations safely and effectively.” The helicopter will
augment those that the Forest Service currently uses on an as-
needed basis under established agreements with several
organizations in Southern California. This new contracting
helicopter will be used by the Forest Service exclusively for
firefighting operations thereby ensuring availability of a
night-flying helicopter in the future. The helicopter, which
will be based in Southern California, will support wildfire
suppres