Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., asked the U.S. Forest Service on Wednesday to investigate reports that Canada is unfairly subsidizing its aerial firefighting industry, endangering wildfire readiness in Oregon and the West as well as putting U.S. competitors at an unjust disadvantage for wildfire work. Wyden noted in his letter for U.S. Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen that these concerns raise urgent questions because responses are due this month to the Forest Service’s Request for Proposals for Large Air Tanker Services.
“While I am concerned about the readiness of the United States to fight the growing number and severity of forest fires, including with domestic resources, I am also concerned that unfair foreign subsidies put domestic producers at an economic disadvantage,” wrote Wyden, a strong advocate of ensuring Oregon has enough air tankers available for wildfires.