Pyne, Stephen J. “The Solution is Aircraft”: Aircraft and the Political Economy of Canadian Forest Fires. American Review of Canadian Studies, 2006, pp 458-477.

posted on the Net here:

http://westinstenv.org/ffsci/2007/12/26/the-solution-is-aircraft/

So smaller planes have certain difficiencies and limitations, too.

Unlike the Feds who look at the fire as a whole before committing a commanding force, Cal Fire's mission is to make it black.

Granted the U.S Forest Service serves more open lands so the option to "manage" fire exists.

Cal Fire's dedication to the duel supertankers signals to me they intend to use them more often in the initial attack phase.

Of course this season may decide which aircraft sets up best for the 2010-2011 season.

It might be too much to ask for them to keep both.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com:80/greenspace/2009/07/san-diego-countys-2003-wildfire-losses-top-2-billion.html

Analysis of the economic utility of firefighting must consider cost-plus-loss, not just direct expenses.

Firefighter safety is an important consideration, but preventing losses is the real reason we fight fires in the first place.

Shows that the pros with experience are in agreement that big planes can work wonders, and that they could be useful in a lot of places. I suppose though, that with all the million-dollar homes at risk in SoCal, the Powers That Be have made some priority choices. I am not being cynical, just realistic. Fire suppression, like other govt activities, happens in a political context.