Deep within the bowels of the massive stimulus bill is a one billion dollar allotment for wildland fire uses. Fire Rescue 1 reports on specifics that include;

• modifying, upgrading, or constructing state and local fire stations
• hazardous fuels reduction
• hazard mitigation activities in areas at high risk of catastrophic wildfire
• creating incentives for increased use of biomass from national forest lands

Remodeling stations is consistent with the new President's theme of retrofitting government buildings as a way to re-employ American workers.

Hazardous fuels reduction is vital. Dead or dying pine trees in Georgia, The Rockies and California present a clear and present danger to forests, communities and firefighters. Beetle abatement programs are severely underfunded and as a result many of our forests are sick.

The forests need to be cleared of diseased stands. Money would be well spent on this. Downed material as biomass fuel? Better than being consumed in a conflagration.

It sounds like the Bill is light on money for fire suppression. With that amount of money I could see funding the 747 supertanker and a few more Tanker 910 clones.

Money for hazardous fuel abatement is long overdue. For me it comes down to firefighter safety issue.