Government officials are exploring ways to combat the devastation the state has endured, in light of the recent ongoing fires caused by intense drought.
One plan underway is a $1.5 million upgrade of the Cibola National Forest Air Tanker Base, located on the Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque. With the upgrade, the base will be able to refill larger planes with fire retardant, according to KOB 4.
"Unfortunately, I think we’re in for more of this," Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) told KOB 4, referring to the massive fires around the state. "We're in the midst of a drought that our region hasn't seen for 1,200 years. We have to update how we do everything. Look at what managing and what firefighting means in a changed climate, and get prepared for it. And this is one piece of that overall puzzle."
The air tanker base is operated by the U.S. National Forest in partnership with the Air Force, KOB 4 reported. It is the source for "the landing and refilling of air attack resources to fight wildfires all over New Mexico." The current runway at the facility can handle airplanes that hold up to 3,000 gallons of retardant. Larger planes can handle up to 9,000 gallons but cannot land on the current runway. Those planes must go to Roswell or Arizona to be filled.
Construction on lengthening the runway at the Cibola base is expected to be completed in the fall. This will allow larger planes to be able to lift off and touch down on the runway and respond faster to fires. Officials hope this faster response will reduce the damage done by fires by stopping them sooner rather than later.
The funding will come from the Air Force budget.
