Senators Call for Help Fighting Wildfires

Published: Thursday, July 10, 2014 - 3:05pm
Updated: Thursday, July 10, 2014 - 3:15pm

Arizona’s two United States Senators and more than two dozen of their colleagues are calling on the Defense Department to help fight wildfires. 

In a letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, the bi-partisan group of senators called on his agency to end its freeze on the transfer of extra military equipment to fire departments, law enforcement and other first responders. Last week, the Department of Defense said it would not transfer items like humvees, generators and trucks because they may not meet federal emissions standards.

The senators said they “see no justification for government red-tape to stand in the way of helping first responders get the equipment they need to respond to wildland fires, floods and other natural disasters.”

In addition to McCain and Flake, senators from other western states, including Montana, Texas, Wyoming, Oklahoma and Colorado also signed on to the letter, as well as those from other states.