VIDEO: Helicopters are critical to fighting wildfires in Colorado. For years now, the state has contracted them to help fight fires. Now, Colorado is buying two Bell 205 helicopters so it doesn’t have to share resources with places like California and New Mexico.
"Historically, Colorado has relied on an interstate pool of aircraft, and we have on occasion contracted or leased for a period of time aircraft that we can control," Democratic Governor Jared Polis said at a press conference in April.
The governor and the head of the state fire agency held a press conference last month assuring everyone Colorado is more prepared for fires than ever.
"We're shifting our resources to a model that allows us to respond more effectively to what is no longer just a wildfire season," said Mike Morgan, the head of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.