A Solution to the War on Fire

As more than 200,000 people fled their homes in Northern California and more in Southern California were ordered to evacuate due to wildfires, there is no question that California is battling the brutal new reality of climate change. Earlier this month, PG&E warned that hundreds of thousands of the state’s residents will regularly face days-long power outages so the utility can avoid starting wildfires.

California Governor Gavin Newsome declared a state of emergency on Sunday due to extreme high wind events and dangerously dry conditions that have left the state battling fires in the north and in Los Angeles County. He stated, “We are deploying every resource available.”

As California wages war with wildfires, the U.S. does have a solution that would quell fires quickly and prevent them in high risk areas.

Cargo Planes as Water Bombers

Specifically, the U.S. military could convert many of its cargo planes into water bombers using three to four roll-on/roll-off expandable pressurized bladders per aircraft. The bladders could be sized to achieve each type of cargo plane’s load capacity, enabling planes to be refitted quickly and bladders refilled rapidly.

The U.S. Airforce (USAF) has more than 50 Lockheed Martin-manufactured C-5M Super Galaxy planes, which is the biggest military transport aircraft used by the USAF. The plane can take off with a maximum weight of 381 tons, including a payload of 129,274 kg, which equates to 762,000 lbs or 90,000 gallons of water. This compares to helicopters we’ve seen carrying small 1,000-gallon water tanks to the Pacific Palisades area last week to try and contain individual home fires.

And, the USAF has many more planes at its disposal that could help with the mission, including:

•  The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III – more than 220 planes with a maximum payload capacity of 170,900 lbs
•   C-130J Super Hercules – more than 110 planes
•  C-130H Hercules – more than 215 planes

Additionally, the USAF has more than 500 other cargo and tanker aircraft that could be deployed to carry water to contain the fires. And, the five major units of the California Air National Guard also have large cargo planes that could be leveraged to fight and prevent fires.

Making it Rain to Stop Fires

We’re in uncharted territory when it comes to climate change’s repercussions and how we will deal with them. It’s clearly time to consider new solutions to the wildfires in California and beyond. When the first indications of a fire or fire risk arise, the fleet of water bombers would be deployed to “make it rain” over the designated area. 

This solution has the added benefit of simulating battle conditions for training bomber pilots. And, PG&E and insurance carriers might be willing to defray the costs versus paying out hundreds of millions, if not billions, in power outages and insurance claims.