Bingaman's Wildfire Assistance Bill Signed

Jeff Bingaman

Washington DC - President Obama today signed legislation U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman cosponsored to make it possible for the Forest Service to add more air tankers to their wildfire suppression fleet.  The bill was sponsored by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR). While the U.S. Forest Service has made decisions regarding contracts for seven next-generation air tankers, those contracts cannot be awarded until after a 30 day waiting period. The new law expedites the contracts by waiving the waiting period and getting the planes into service as soon as possible. “In New Mexico, firefighters are continuing to battle several ongoing wildfires,” Bingaman said.  “I am pleased Congress and the President were able to act in short order to get this bill passed and signed so the Forest Service can move more quickly to secure much-needed air tankers,” Bingaman said. The Forest Service notified Congress on May 25 that it intended to award four contracts for seven planes to partially fulfill the government’s need for large air tankers. The Forest Service also requested that Congress waive the 30 waiting period. That was a week before two accidents involving Forest Service air tankers left one plane totaled and another likely out for the season with landing gear damage. Read More News New Mexico

Bingaman's Wildfire Assistance Bill Signed

Gila wildfire becomes largest in NM history at 170,000 acres

Las Cruces Sun-News -  A massive wildfire in southwestern New Mexico's Gila National Forest is now the largest fire in state history. Fire officials said Wednesday the erratic fire has grown to more than 170,000 acres, surpassing a blaze last year that burned 156,593 acres in New Mexico and threatened the nation's premier nuclear facility. The Gila forest fire is also the largest currently burning in the country. Fire information officer Jerry Perry says about 1,200 firefighters from around the state were in the isolated region to battle the growing blaze. He says they face low humidity and shifting winds in their firefighting efforts. Perry says parts of southern New Mexico could expect to see smoke from the fire, which has destroyed a dozen homes. Read More News New Mexico

Gila wildfire becomes largest in NM history at 170,000 acres