HELENA — A federal review found that Montana has a safe aviation program, but it is unlikely the state’s five firefighting helicopters will be used to respond to blazes on U.S. Forest Service lands this year, officials said Friday.
The five modified Bell UH-1H helicopters have been barred from responding to fires in the state’s national forests because federal standards require that they use smaller buckets to scoop water. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock objected to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, citing the shortage of firefighting resources as hot weather and dry conditions sparked dozens of wildfires last month.
Further discussions by Bullock and Vilsack led federal aviation experts to review the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s program last week.
It found that the program was safe, but now the agencies must determine how the standards can be broadened to allow the helicopters’ use, state and federal officials said in separate statements.
“DNRC has designed a safe aviation program; however, as presently operated the Montana program does not currently meet federal policies and guidelines for initial attack on Forest Service lands,” the statement from USDA Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie said. “USDA has committed to explore whether federal standards could be broadened to allow for alternate means of compliance.”
DNRC Director John Tubbs said he believes the conflict will be resolved before the start of next year’s fire season.
“This is a policy issue, not a safety issue, so we’re very glad to have that issue behind us,” Tubbs said. “This is the only area in our firefighting relationship with the Forest Service that we have a real issue.”
The rebuilt Vietnam-era helicopters have increased power that allows them to safely carry 324-gallon buckets, which they have done for initial attacks on state and private lands throughout this fire season, state officials said. Forest Service policy, developed after helicopter crashes in the past, requires aircraft of that type to carry water-scooping buckets 100 gallons smaller.
Cooler temperatures, rain and even snow in higher elevations moved into the region last week, slowing fire activity and freeing up more helicopters, firefighters and engines. But Tubbs warned that the fire season continues, with temperatures climbing again this week.
“We have not had a season-ending event, but we have had a season-dampening event,” Tubbs said. “That gives us some breathing room.”
The state has spent $10.5 million fighting fires this year, which is below the 10-year average cost, but that is because most of the large fires have been on federal lands, he said.