The LA County Fire Dept. announced that it will renew its lease on two "SuperScooper" airplanes to fight wildfires from September through December. The fixed-wing, amphibious Bombardier CL-415 is capable of scooping up to 1,620 gallons of water from lakes, injecting it with fire-resistant foam (in 12 seconds) and dropping it on wildfires. The LACoFD also leased an Erickson Helitanker, capable of dropping up to 2,200 gallons of water. Click here for video of a SuperScooper swooping down on Big Bear Lake last October.

But with devastating fires in Malibu and elsewhere outside of the traditional Sept-Dec fire season (check out this map of the current NorCal fires), should the county own it's own fleet or at least lease for 6 months if not year-round?