L.A. to Study Purchasing Firefighting Aircraft

With the possibility of a long-term drought--and concern over the annual summer brush-fire season--Los Angeles will consider buying or leasing a SuperScooper water-dropping plane and a huge water-dropping helicopter.

Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski introduced a motion this week that asks the city to explore plans to buy or lease one or more SuperScoopers and an Erickson Air-Crane Helitanker.

“I’d like our best firefighting assessment, along with our best fiscal management assessment, so that we can guarantee to the council and public that we have this firefighting capability,” she said.

In the past, the city has relied on a mutual aid arrangement with the county Fire Department, subleasing the aircraft. The city soon will be leasing a 2,000-gallon Helitanker--a huge firefighting helicopter--but the city does not own either apparatus, officials said.

A SuperScooper costs about $22 million, which makes it less cost-effective than regular helicopters, said Los Angeles Fire Battalion Chief Daryl Arbuthnott.

“It would be a great tool to have, but the helicopters are the best buy for us,” he said, adding that regular-size choppers can be used for many other purposes in addition to wildfires.

Another good option would be the state’s purchase of a SuperScooper or a Helitanker to meet local needs, Arbuthnott said.