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Issue D.3: State Radios Backgrourui: All Colorado State Forest Service state fire engines are subject to respond across jurisdictional lines anywhere in the slate. NOL all these engines have radios. Those that do have few common frequencies. Action Element: Acquire and maintain caches of programmable radios for Colorado SLate Forest Service fire engines assigned on incidenlS oUlSide their home county. Install Fire Emergency Radio NeLwork frequency 154.280 MHz where radios already exist. Agencies: Fire departmenlS, Colorado State ForesL Service */* Estimated Costs: $600 per programmable radio plus maintenance. . Funding Sources: Fire departmenlS. Schedule: Ongoing, Issue D.4: Aviation Resources Backgrourui: Aviation resources such as helicopters and fire reLardant airtankers are invaluable for wildfires that threaten homes or special values as well as for fires in remote areas. Aircraft are mosL cost-effective during initial attack when fires are small. Federal aviation resources in Colorado may be committed elsewhere when needed. For remote fires, it is noL reasonable to expect volunteer firefighters to leave their day job, drive as close as possible and then hike for an hour or more to atLack a wildfire in ilS early sLages. When aircraft are available, slate and local funds may not exist to pay for the reLardant chemicals or flight COSls. In 1992, the state began use of single-engine air tankers (SE/ATs) as a lower cost alternative. SE/ATs have proven to be a cosL-effective, accuraLe, rapid attack fire control LooI in both remote and inLerface areas. These aircraft are most effecLive when fires are small and therefore must be immediately available nearby for quick response. In 1994. the SE/A Ts were joined by use of Anny National Guard helicopters with water buckets to control wildfires. The state needs to continue with ilS aviation program to assure availability of aircraft for quick supporL to local fire agencies. Action Element: Provide funding, contracting and coordination for availabiliLy and safe operalion of aircrafL LO meet federal, sLate and local wildfire needs for rapid a!Lack in Colorado. Improve aviation programs by integrating federal, staLe and National Guard aviation asselS, aircraft locations and contract schedules. Increase availabiliLy and use of single-engine air tankers. Continue training and use of Anny National Guard helicopters with heli,buckelS. Agencies: Federal wildfire agencies. Colorado State Forest Service. Colorado Anny National Guard * /* county sheriffs, local fire departments. Estimated Costs: $1,500 per day per contracL aircraft available plus chemicals and flighL cosls. FlighL COSls for National Guard aircraft. Furuiing Sources: Federal agency funds and sLaLe budget enhancemenlS for aircraft availabiliLy and user training; user agency funds for use. Schedule: 1996 and ongoing each year. . , 38