Memories of Wildfires Past

With spring greenery everywhere, the danger from wildfires seems remote. But one need only remember last autumn’s devastating Laguna Beach/Altadena/Malibu firestorms--which scorched tens of thousands of acres, destroyed more than 500 homes and cost hundreds of millions of dollars--to realize that there’s no time like the present for homeowners to start preparing for the peril the coming fire season will bring. That is no less true for members of the California Legislature and Gov. Pete Wilson; they would be wise to employ any technology or equipment that upgrades the state’s firefighting capability.

For starters, Sacramento should experiment with what could be a big gun in the state’s firefighting arsenal: the CL-415 “Super Scooper.” The CL-415 is a Canadian-built amphibious plane that can swoop down over an ocean or lake and in 12 seconds load up with a prodigious 1,600 gallons of water that can then be dumped on a fire.

Each plane costs $17 million. That’s expensive. But not nearly as expensive as some out-of-control fires. By the time the costs are tallied for emergency services, lost property tax revenues, infrastructure repair, disaster relief and private insurance payouts to businesses and homeowners, the super scooper looks like a bargain.

Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman (D-Brentwood) has introduced legislation (AB 2802) that appropriates $1.7 million to lease two water-scooping aircraft, to be used up and down the state during the 1994 fire season. Friedman also is seeking federal funding to extend the program through 1995.

Two years ago, the Legislature passed a similar bill, which was vetoed by Gov. Wilson. But given the consequences of last year’s firestorms, Wilson should reassess the situation.

AB 2802 is an experiment. If the planes fail to deliver, the Legislature always can shelve the program. But lawmakers must not be afraid to try it.