Santa Maria airport expands ability to fight wildfires as Forest Service air attack base
The Santa Maria Public Airport will expand its role as the U.S. Forest Service Air Attack Base with the addition of permanent fire retardant loading equipment.
Officials announced Wednesday that the airport would gain an additional long-term fire retardant reloading point, known as Pit 4, for the U.S. Forest Service tanker base.
The expanded capabilities will build upon the air tanker base that has operated from the site since 2007.
“While Pit 4 is currently comprised of new, temporary equipment, plans are in place to install a permanent fire retardant mixing/loading facility, which will increase capacity, allow greater efficiency and ensure that we can accommodate simultaneously more than one of the largest aircraft in the Forest Service fleet, the DC-10,” said Chris Hastert, general manager for the Santa Maria airport.
The air tanker base has become a critical component in fighting wildfires and protecting residents not only on the Central Coast, but also reaching out to locations as far away as Arizona, Utah and Colorado, officials said, adding that the Santa Maria site often dispenses more retardant per fire season than most others in the country.
Los Padres National Forest Supervisor Kevin Elliott praised the support of the Central Coast Jet Center, the Santa Maria Public Airport District, and state and county fire departments.
“Having the additional retardant pit will increase our ability to support firefighters on the ground and protect communities at risk from new wildfire starts across the Central Coast,” Elliott said.
Three of California’s eight largest wildfires occurred in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, including Thomas in 2017, Zaca in 2007 and Matilija in 1932.
The Thomas Fire also is among the top 20 most destructive blazes in the state, along with the Painted Cave Fire in 1990.
Hastert noted that the decision to expand the capabilities involved Congressman Salud Carbajal and his staff.
“Climate change has created year-round wildfire seasons, so I’m glad the Forest Service sees the growing importance of a permanent air tanker facility for Santa Maria and the entire region,” Carbajal said. “Now more than ever, it is essential that we work to increase capacity for large and very large air tankers that have proven critical in the fight against fires. I’m glad our work with the Forest Service was fruitful and we were able to achieve this permanent expansion.”
The Santa Maria Public Airport encompasses about 2,577 acres, including two active runways. The airport provides facilities for one airline — Allegiant Air flying to Las Vegas — the U.S. Forest Service Tanker Base, and more than 200 general aviation aircraft.
United Airlines has announced new service into SMX, anticipated to begin in March 2021 after two delays from June and October because of the global COVID-19 pandemic affecting the airline industry. That new service reportedly will include daily flights to and from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver, according to a much-heralded announcement earlier this year.