U.S. Sen. Mark Udall says replacement air tankers may not be available to fight wildfires this summer.
Udall says budget disputes are holding up federal funding and firefighters may have to make do with what they have for another year.
According to the Vail Daily (http://tinyurl.com/ag42qwy ), the U.S. Forest Service's entire fleet consists of 10 Korean War era tankers.
Udall said he has asked the U.S. Air Force to outfit seven C-130 transport planes as makeshift air tankers to make up for the delay.
Forest officials say they're worried because water supplies are low following two years of dry weather.
Udall says wildfire tanker replacements tied up
POSTED: 10:47 AM MST Feb 13, 2013
UPDATED: 10:55 AM MST Feb 13, 2013
Helicopter air-lifting water to fight Pine Ridge Fire - Photo taken by Tyler Eichhorst
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