County could buy aircraft

With “fire season” in Southern California, traditionally a fall phenomenon, creeping earlier and earlier into the year, Los Angeles County officials are asking if it’s time to purchase the massive water-dropping “Super Scoopers” for yearround use.

“When the L.A. County Fire Department initially began leasing the

Super Scoopers, purchasing them was cost prohibitive,” Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich said during a Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday.

“But due to the extreme ongoing risk of fires associated with the drought, it’s imperative that county fire re-evaluate the possibility of purchasing such Super Scoopers.”

The county leases two Super Scoopers — amphibious firefighting aircraft which can scoop up 1,621 gallons of water in 12 seconds — from Quebec, Canada, for three months during the fall.

The planes usually arrive in late August or early September when, historically, fire season has started to slow down in Canada and picked up in Southern California.

“The supervisor has pointed out that the fire season was different when we started this in the ‘90s,” said Cameron Rankin, spokesman for Antonovich. “We now have a yearlong fire season, and I think it’s appropriate to explore all options.”

Antonovich asked the Fire Department to report back to the Board of Supervisors with options for purchasing or leasing Super Scoopers or partnering with other agencies to share resources.

The county pays $5.5 million each year to lease two Super Scoopers. One would cost about $37 million to purchase.

The county pays about $1,100 per hour to operate each plane. Rankin said it is not known how many Super Scoopers the county would need year-round.

“I think what we need to do is wait for the report to come back that Supervisor Antonovich ordered so we can expand all options,” he said. “We’re

just going to be assessing all our different financial possibilities.”

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby told supervisors the Fire Department will re-evaluate the contracts for the Super Scoopers and helitankers and reassess the current helicopter fleet. He said some of the helicopters may need replacement.

But would the Super Scoopers have helped firefighters get better control of the Sand fire, which has burned more than 38,000 acres and destroyed 18 structures since July 22?

“Not necessarily,” U.S. Forest Service spokesman Nathan Judy said. “Every aircraft has a

different function. Super Scoopers need a larger area to pick up water to do the scooping from. Helicopters can go to a smaller pond.”

Judy also said Super Scoopers are not as effective as helicopters in areas with canyons and rugged terrain.

However, county Fire Inspector Richard Licon replied “very much so” when asked if the Super Scoopers would have helped in the Sand fire. He said the larger planes could drop much more water on the head of the fire.

After evaluating the options, Osby is expected to report back to the Board of Supervisors next month.