HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 5476-1971RESOLUTION NO. 5476
CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LEAGUE OF
CALIFORNIA CITIES AND THE MEMBER CITIES
THEREOF AND STATE AND NATIONAL LEGIS-
LATORS TO APPROVE THE PROGRAM OF
UTILIZING SURPLUS MILITARY AIRCRAFT
IN FIGHTING FOREST FIRES.
WHEREAS, the State of .2alifornia has recently experienced
a series of disastrous fires which blackened thousands of acres
of forest and watershed and destroyed millions of dollars worth
of property; and
WHEREAS, each year has brought forest fires to the moun-
tains of California, particularly in Southern California, and
each year the fires have been controlled only after great
expenditure of money and m~n hours; and
WHEREAS, in order to adequately control a fire with a mini-
mum of destruction of forest and watershed and loss of property
it is essential that fire-fighting methods be employed as soon
as practicable after discovery of the fire; and
WHEREAS, at the present time there are approximately 7,000
mothballed surplus aircraft belonging to the United States Air
Force which are presently situated on fields in the State of
Arizona; and
WHEREAS, these aircraft are serviceable and have potential
capacity for carrying personnel or materials in the fighting
of forest fires; and
WHEREAS, the present aircraft used for liquid drops in the
fighting of forest fires consists of helicopters capable of
carrying 125 gallons of chemical solution, or the B-17 of World
War II fame which carries some 1,400 gallons of fire retardant
liquids; and
WHEREAS, a part of the surplus military aircraft consists
of the KC-97, which was used as an in-flight refueling plane,
and has capacity to carry approximately 13,000 gallons; and
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WHEREAS, vast benefits could be derived by the State,
counties and cities of the State of California, as well as the
entire West; it is only fitting and proper that the forest
service of the United States Government be empowered to estab-
lish a flying wing of approximately 50 surplus KC-97 aircraft
modified so as to be useful in the dropping of liquid chemicals
on forest fires; and
WHEREAS, the said aircraft referred to herein could be kept
at military air fields throughout the western United States
where the forest fires are an annual threat and accordingly be
available for pinpoint dropping of liquid chemicals on any fire
that might erupt west of the Mississippi River~
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS:
1. That the City Council of the City of South San Francisco
expresses its concurrence in the program of utilizing surplus
military aircraft where practicable and economically feasible,
and having such aircraft available to assist in the fighting
of forest fires in the State of California and the western part
of the United States and urges the League of California Cities
and our State and national Legislators to support said program.
2. That the City Clerk be, and he is hereby, authorized and
directed to forward a certified copy of this resolution to the
Executive Director of the League of California Cities and to
our State and National Legislators.
I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was
regularly introduced and adopted by the City Council of the
City of South San Francisco at a regular meeting
held on the 4%h day of January , 19 71 , by
the following vote:
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AYES,
NOES,
ABSENT,
COUNCILMEN
Patrick E. Ahern, Frank J. Bertucelli, William A.
Borba, F. Frank Mammini and Warren Steinkamp
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