R5 Fire BOD has approved significant reductions in fire fleet. This letter below outlines the reduction process. Instead of finding solutions after evaluating the health of the budget when FY18 is completed, they choose to cut. Major cuts to ST vehicles and engine utilities. I will attempt to bring in the approved region-wide ratios outlining the cuts.
"In efforts to have a more disciplined budget structure, the Fire & Aviation Management (FAM) Budget Allocation Committee helped develop a standard for fleet, similar to the Standard Fire and Aviation Management Organization (SFAMO) for personnel. The objective is to have consistent fleet configuration across the region for like fire resources. This standard will allow for increased transparency in the fire program through demonstrating a direct correlation of the fleet and personnel resources in accomplishing the Wildland Fire Preparedness mission. The new standards outlined in the attached enclosure were approved at the Fire/Line meeting.
Units will begin to implement reductions in FY2018 where possible immediately to reduce fixed costs. FAM regional office and Fleet staff will develop a plan for long-term implementation during the remainder of the year. Execution of the plan will begin in FY2019 with complete implementation by FY2020 for a steady state level of vehicles thereafter.
Additionally, a number of forests have been reporting extensive time delays in FAM fleet maintenance and repair activities. These delays are having significant impacts on our ability to respond effectively to wildfires. As such, a number of supplemental fleet vehicles have been authorized for the near term. Separate efforts are underway between Fleet, AQM, and FAM-RLOT to address the maintenance/repair delays. A comprehensive solution will be developed to reduce the downtime of FAM fleet vehicles. In future years as fleet downtime is reduced, the supplemental fleet will be reviewed for further reduction."