Military Fire Duty

I am happy to see in your articles on the Normal Heights fire that you have found out about the air tankers. I have lived in Southern California for 30 years and have always wondered why, with all the military aircraft whose pilots are trained to drop bombs with precision, that the military aircraft are not called upon to fight the fires. They could have fire-retardant tanks ready for attachment and, with a call from the city, they could be over the target within minutes. And there should be no billing since we all pay for the planes and pilots through our federal taxes. The Administration seems loath to use them in any way except to have the Blue Angels here once a year.

CLARENCE HALL

Escondido