Bullock, Daines ask feds to let DNRC helicopters fight all fires
While wildfires spew smoke into the air, Gov. Steve Bullock is asking the federal government to get firefighting helicopters off the ground.
On Friday, Bullock sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, asking him to amend a rule that prevents the Montana Department of Natural Resources’ fleet of UH-1H helicopters (aka Hueys) from being used to fight wildfires on lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Nearly 29 percent of Montana’s land is federally managed — 17 million acres by the Forest Service and 7 million acres by the Bureau of Land Management.
On Monday, at least three wildfires were burning on federal lands in Montana, including the 19,000-acre Bear Creek Fire in the Flathead National Forest.
The DNRC’s fleet includes five UH-1H helicopters, three stationed in Helena and one each in Missoula and Kalispell.
The retired military aircraft have been upgraded with more powerful engines, power trains, tail booms and other design modifications for fire suppression operations, specifically initial attacks aimed at drowning a wildfire in its infancy.
The aircraft, known for their signature chop, can deliver a 324-gallon water bucket or six firefighters riding as passengers.
But following a 2008 crash that killed nine firefighters in California by a different type of helicopter, the Forest Service strictly enforced airworthiness and weight-to-lift standards for all contract, lease or cooperator aircraft.
Last year, Montana was notified that its UH-1H fleet was unauthorized for Forest Service fire suppression, including the initial attack for which they are designed, except to address an immediate threat to human life. In contrast, the Bureau of Land Management does allow the state’s helicopters to conduct initial attacks.
“I have previously stated to you my concerns related to restrictions placed by the USDA Forest Service on the use of Montana UH-1H helicopters,” the governor’s letter to Vilsack states. “Our pilots have flown these helicopters on hundreds of missions on wildland fires around the state this summer. The primary goal for DNRC’s UH-1H aircraft is initial attack and they are again demonstrating their effectiveness this fire season.
“However, wildland fires emerged on federal fire protection in full view of our aviation staff, who watched them grow as federal firefighters waited for other ‘approved’ aircraft to be dispatched from distant locations. I am also aware of fires where state aircraft were above wildfires and instructed not to take suppression actions, due to the fact that the fires were on federal fire protection. This makes no sense, and puts the safety and property of Montanans at risk.”
A spokesman for Bullock said the governor discussed the matter with Vilsack and Under Secretary Robert Bonnie over the weekend, but nothing has changed yet. On Sunday, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines said he had sent Vilsack a similar letter.
“As emphasized by Gov. Bullock, UH-1H helicopters have a strong safety record and have been proven to provide a critical capability in the initial attack phase of combating wildfires,” Daines wrote. “As Montana and the nation confront one of the worst fire seasons in recent memory, I urge your department to reexamine the current policy with respect to the UH-1H and modify existing regulations such that all safe and reliable assets are available and utilized as needed.”
A spokesman for the USDA said the federal agency was working to resolve the issue with the governor and senator but couldn’t provide specific details Monday.
Troy Carter can be reached at 582-2630 or tcarter@dailychronicle.com. He’s on Twitter at @cartertroy.