WITH FIRE SEASON IN THE WESTERN U-S KICKING INTO HIGH GEAR, THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT A POSSIBLE SHORTAGE OF AIR TANKERS TO BATTLE THE FLAMES. BUT NEW MEXICO U-S FOREST SERVICE SPOKESMAN MARK CHAVEZ TELLS 770 KKOB THAT SHOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE HERE. HE SAYS THE STATE HAS ALL THE RESOURCES NEEDED, INCLUDING HELICOPTERS AND AIR TANKERS AVAILABLE IN THE REGION IF WE NEED THEM.
THE FOREST SERVICE DOESN'T OWN THE AIR TANKERS, BUT CONTRACTS WITH AVIATION COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE THE AIRCRAFT. ONE OF THOSE COMPANIES RECENTLY MOVED ITS HEADQUARTERS TO THE ALBUQUERQUE SUNPORT.
