CALIFORNIA — The National Defense Authorization Act, signed by President Biden late in 2023, included language drafted by Senator Dianne Feinstein and, after her death, pushed along by Senator Alex Padilla, authorizing CAL FIRE to acquire seven C-130H aircraft from the U.S. Coast Guard. Early last week, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office announced the transfer has been completed, and we can expect to see the first aircraft in the field this fall. Beforehand, CAL FIRE must equip each plane with a 4,000-gallon Retardant Delivery System (RDS). When the conversion process is completed, CAL FIRE plans to strategically deploy five C-130Hs to air bases in Chico, Fresno, Paso Robles, Ramona, and Sacramento. Two aircraft, reserved for surge capacity and maintaining response capabilities during mandatory maintenance cycles, will float, as needed, between bases. According to Newsom, “We’re putting more planes in the sky and boots on the ground than ever before to protect Californians from the threat of devastating wildfires. These new C-130H aircraft, when they’re modified to fight fires, will significantly boost our capabilities.” Meanwhile, Matt Dias, a spokesperson for the California Forestry Association, an industry trade group, also commented, saying, “The official transfer of seven C-130H aircraft from the U.S. Coast Guard to CAL FIRE marks a pivotal stride in enhancing our capacity to combat and control wildfires.” Dias also said, “By quickly getting these aircraft into the fleet, we will expect to see significant contributions to our state’s firefighting capabilities, and it brings encouraging news for the residents of California. This progress is a testament to the positive outcomes achievable through bipartisan support, especially from the late Senator Feinstein’s leadership.”
A C-130H aircraft in flight