In addition to the disaster declaration approved by President Obama Friday – the Forest Service mobilized the four remaining Department of Defense C-130s equipped with Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems. These airtankers are in addition to the 19 currently available nationally to assist with wildfire suppression efforts. MAFFS aircraft have dropped more than 138-thousand gallons of retardant in the Rocky Mountain Region to date – with a primary focus on the Waldo Canyon fire. Damage surveys are continuing – and once the assessments are fully completed – more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated as part of Friday’s disaster declaration.

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson expressed appreciation for the additional resources announced by USDA and other federal partners to support wildfire response efforts. But he added that budgets and programs to make fire-dependent landscapes less susceptible to extreme wildfires are equally important. According to Johnson – land management agencies need strong budgets to stay at the ready to combat wildfires.

Going forward – Johnson says NFU is calling for necessary funding for reclamation activities to restore fire-damaged natural resources and to manage forest landscapes for greater resilience to impacts from a changing climate like extreme drought and bark beetle infestation.