The embattled Forest Service is struggling to respond to warnings that its firefighting airplanes, which fell from the sky at a disconcerting rate this summer, could be potential targets for terrorists. The agency has reviewed security at about a third of its air-tanker bases, but has only made major upgrades to one, according to a report in the Guardian. “Some deadlines were not met in the heat of the fire season,” said Tom Harbour, deputy director of the agency’s fire and aviation management division. “If somebody’s really determined, I couldn’t guarantee that one of these aircraft wouldn’t be hijacked. But I think we’re at the point where we have taken all due precaution and more.” Part of the problem is cash. There simply isn’t enough of it to examine all 52 air-tanker bases in the U.S. and respond accordingly.
Forest Service Struggles To Respond To Terrorist Threat
Key Takeaways:
- The Forest Service is struggling to implement security measures for its firefighting airplanes, which are considered potential terrorist targets following a high rate of crashes.
- Security reviews have only covered about a third of its air-tanker bases, with significant upgrades made to just one, despite warnings.
- The agency attributes the delays and insufficient security upgrades to a lack of funding and the demands of the fire season, preventing full assessment of all 52 bases.
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