WESTLAKE VILLAGE : New Look Urged at Firefighting Plane

With the embers still cooling from two weeks of wildfires in Southern California, the Westlake Village City Council doesn’t understand why Gov. Pete Wilson vetoed a measure that would have launched a two-year test of firefighting technologies, including water-scooping aircraft.

The Westlake Village council traditionally has avoided taking stands on state legislative issues, unlike many other cities, said City Councilman Doug Yarrow, who initiated the idea of sending a letter calling for reconsideration of the “super-scooper” aircraft.

But in this case the council made an exception, voting unanimously in favor of a resolution supporting reintroduction of the firefighting measure, Assembly Bill 3046.

Last year, Wilson vetoed the bill that would have provided $1.8 million to lease the so-called super-scooper plane. More recently, Wilson has said he may favor testing the plane, provided it can be done at no cost to the state.

Yarrow said the City Council was moved from its customary neutrality after recent devastating wildfires swept through the hills surrounding the city. Council members were particularly disturbed that the governor would kill the bill’s provision to test the aircraft at what several said they considered minimal cost.

“We really feel that, had this asset been available, some lives and homes would have been saved,” Yarrow said. “We are not out of the woods yet. Fire season will continue until January. We are at risk,” he added.

“It’s a very good system and such a small expenditure of money,” City Councilman Ken Rufener said.

City Manager Ray Taylor said he will draft a letter to the governor in coming days to notify him of the resolution. Westlake Village officials will also urge neighboring cities to draft similar resolutions.