I do NOT understand, with all the "stuff" this country has, and the stored aircraft in various places like AZ, why we EASILY can't have a few more large scale "fire bombers". Of course this would require "some of us" to pay a bit more in taxes.
I always thought it a good idea to have a national fire fighting program like the military trained in all types of fire fighting equipped with planes , tankers , dozers etc.
Right now between Washington , Idaho and Montana , fire teams are spread thin.