Firefighting Jet Contract Axed By Calif. Budget
VICTORVILLE, Calif. (AP) -- Just as Southern California's wildfire season begins, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has had to cut the contract for the nation's biggest firefighting jet.
The executive of a Victorville company that rents DC-10 supertankers told the Riverside Press-Enterprise Wednesday that the state canceled a three-year contract with his firm because of budget cuts.
The $7 million contract would keep a supertanker ready for takeoff. Rick Hatton of 10 Tanker Air Carrier says he'll put his two jets in storage soon.
The planes can carry 12,000 gallons of fire retardant -- ten times more than state-owned planes.
Department spokeswoman Janet Upton said nobody's happy about the cancellation. She said the agency has already cut its engine crews from four people to three this season.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
