Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On January 21, 2025, U.S. Senators Tim Sheehy and Martin Heinrich (D – N.M.) introduced the “Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025” to strengthen the aerial wildfire suppression fleet and better combat the year-round threat of catastrophic wildfire. Senator Sheehy provided the following statement. 

“As a former Navy SEAL and the only aerial firefighter in the Senate, I understand government’s most solemn duty is to keep the American people safe,” Sheehy said. “Combatting the threat of catastrophic wildfires is a year-round mission, and we must ensure our aerial wildfire suppression fleet has the resources needed to protect our communities. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan effort to help our brave first responders fight wildfires better, faster, and stronger by streamlining wildland firefighting efforts and removing outdated bureaucratic obstacles to getting the job done.” 

Senator Heinrich said he’s worked for years to expand the operations of Very Large Air Tankers that have proven absolutely essential to firefighters battling large wildfires in New Mexico, Los Angeles, and across the West.  

“This includes securing more than $15 million to upgrade the Cibola National Forest Air Tanker Base in Albuquerque so that it can support and refuel the most effective firefighting planes that make the most difference for firefighters on the ground by dropping larger loads of fire retardant on blazes,” Heinrich said. “I’m proud to partner with Senator Sheehy on this bipartisan legislation that will help aerial wildfire firefighting contractors continue purchasing excess equipment from the military to support their heavy aircraft. I will never stop fighting to deliver the resources New Mexico needs to effectively respond to wildfires and restore the health and resilience of our forests and watersheds.” 

According to Sheehy, the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025 amends the Wildfire Suppression Aircraft Transfer Act of 1996 to reauthorize the sale of aircraft and parts by the Department of Defense for wildfire suppression. 

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“This bipartisan bill will help the U.S. better suppress wildfires year-round by facilitating the acquisition of military excess aircraft, sold at fair market value, for the aerial wildfire suppression fleet,” Sheehy said. “Additionally, the sale of parts will help the U.S. maintain its existing aerial firefighting aircraft fleet. The bill reauthorizes the Secretary of Defense to sell excess Department of Defense aircraft and aircraft parts, which are acceptable for commercial sale, to persons or entities that contract with the government for the delivery of fire retardant or water by air to suppress wildfires, as long as the aircraft and parts are used only for wildfire suppression.” 

You can read more about the bill here.

10 Tips To Prevent Wildfires

Smokey The Bear said it best, "only you can prevent wildfires." Well, it's a lot easier said than done, Smokey. Great name for a bear trying to warn us about fire hazards, by the way.

In order to prevent wildfires, you have to first know how they can be prevented. Here are 10 tips provided by the Department Of Interior that will help you in your every day life, so you can enjoy being outside, camping, and having bonfires without it turning into a problem.

Here are their 10 tips, along with some simplified explanations from me.

Gallery Credit: Cort Freeman

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