LATEST UPDATE ALERT - 2018!
Sam's SINGLE-HANDED Valiant and Tenacious Efforts Has FINALLY
Brought FIRE-FIGHTING C-130 Aircraft to Nevada Air Guard
Sam ~ "I Told You So."

PREVIOUSLY FOR YEARS AND YEARS LOCAL FAT CATS "FIDDLED" WHILE NORTHERN NEVADA BURNED  
If the grand poobahs and potentates had listened to Sam the massive destruction might not have happened.

ANGORA FIRE - 2007 (weblink)  

TOPAZ FIRE - 2007 (weblink)

FIRE after FIRE after FIRE after FIRE... Many Preventable

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It Is Way Past Time to Start Listening to Sam Dehne
(another story... in the naked city that has no shame) The Reno Citizen, 21 June, 2001
Sam Dehne is a former Military and Air National Guard pilot. He has a history of coming up with ideas that save lives and property. In 1967, Sam put in place an Air Force-wide procedure that has saved well over a $1,000,000,000 dollars and helped protect the environment.

Sam's latest idea is, ironically, a no-brainer. All it takes is for the "authorities" to recognize its obvious benefits and then take immediate steps to put this plan in action.

1. Several years ago Sam was THE Driving Force in getting the Nevada Air National Guard (NANG - that is based at the Reno airport) to switch missions to the C-130 cargo plane.
2. Sam had also campaigned for the FIRE-FIGHTING version of the C-130 for obvious reasons.
3. Instead (and unfortunately) the NANG accepted ONLY the "cargo" version of the C-130 (which it has been flying with an excellent safety record).
4. In the meantime Reno has been threatened by ubiquitous forest fires virtually every summer.
5. This year the massive fire just to the west of town is nearly out of control and the entire community is threatened... lives, property, businesses, tourism industry... even the trucking industry.
6. Sam is once again, lecturing and promoting that the NANG get some of those FIRE-FIGHTING C-130s. They are in the arsenal somewhere in the nation... at bases that are generally not threatened by forest fires. Shockingly, there aren't any in Reno... where they are needed the most.
7. The governor (NANG Commander in Chief), the senators, and the congressmen... as well as all Public Officials have to put their bureaucratic "paralysis of habit" thinking aside for the moment and concentrate on what is good for the citizens.
8. These representatives must demand that the Federal Air National Guard place at least 3 (three) FIRE-FIGHTING C-130s at the NANG... permanently... or at least during the fire season.
9. These FIRE-FIGHTING C-130s would be placed on 15 minute "alert" status. They would thus be able to take off and respond to forest fires WELL BEFORE THE FIRES GET OUT OF CONTROL!
9a. There would also be 2 (two) FIRE-FIGHTING C-130s on Airborne Alert Duty (in the air) orbiting the local area between 2 PM and 7 PM during fire season. The benefits are obvious.
10. These FIRE-FIGHTING C-130s would protect a 100 mile radius of Reno.
11. 90% of the fires would be thwarted before they had a chance to grow and advance on Reno.
12. These FIRE-FIGHTING C-130s of the NANG would be supplemented by the "regular" fire fighting forces as needed.
13. The NANG currently has infra-red techniques that allow their C-130s to look down through the smoke and find the exact point of the fires. One of this type C-130 would lead the FIRE-FIGHTING C-130s directly to the "TARGET".
13a. Or maybe the currently assigned infra-red capable C-130s could be equipped with fire-fighting gadgetry.
14. It must be pointed out that the Nevada Air National Guard (NANG), itself, is comprised of CIVILIAN citizen-soldiers. Thus these citizens, themselves, fit into the category of "civilian resources".
15. The "regular" fire fighting forces are to be subsidized as necessary... to make sure that they are always available to fight fires that are outside the range of the NANG FIRE-FIGHTING C-130s.

It is rumored that Reno's Watchdog, Sam Dehne is anti-business. Nothing could be farther from the truth. It is the local "leaders" who are anti-business... for refusing to implement these simple but brilliant ideas... ideas that will save Reno and make it a better and safer place to live.
It is also rumored that the local Special Interests, the local government gurus, and the local media feel threatened by Sam's words and ideas.. It has now gotten to the bite-off-your-nose-to-spite-your-face phase.

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............................................................LOCAL FAT CATS... "FIDDLING" WHILE RENO BURNS

Rather than listen to Sam, the local hierarchy would rather endanger Reno... its citizens... and its future.
Once again Sam has come up with an idea that nobody else could think of. His simple suggestion would help prevent 90% of the devastating forest fires that endanger our community year after year. It would protect lives, property, and businesses... and even the casinos.

Folks, there is one thing preventing this simple cost-effective technique from being implemented. It is the local fat cats' aversion to listening to Sam Dehne's on-the-mark advice... until it is too late. Reno is living on borrowed time.

The National Guard was created to assist the states and governors during times of civil unrest and natural disasters.

There has rarely been a more appropriate job for this fine group of mostly civilian CITIZEN-SOLDIERS... than to fight these dangerous forest fires!

What do you think (click)?

MEMO
Sam Dehne, Lt Col, USAF (ret)
(775) 825-1398

Subject: Letter to Editor (RGJ - 151 words)
7 July, 2005
Will Sam Dehne’s Idea Save the Nevada Air National Guard C-130s?
Get this.
1. Three years ago Sam went to 3 different government bodies (Reno, Washoe, Sparks) with his Agendized item recommending that the NANG convert some of its C-130s so they could fight forest fires.
2. Sam presented a sophisticated analysis of problems and solutions; some of which can still be found on this Website: http://www.renocitizen.com/fire.htm .
3. The bureaucrats and NANG used every excuse in the book to thwart Sam’s astute postulates. They said “No!”.
4. BUT now they are using Sam’s exact profound ideas as THE excuse to try to save their NANG mission!
PS
If the NANG is somehow able to overcome the Government's typical paralysis of habit... it will be in no small part to Sam’s eternal Watchdogging and vigilance.
PSS
Has anybody thanked Sam for yet another of his masterminded schemes to help save Reno?
Not!
Signed,
Sam Dehne
297 Smithridge
Reno, Nev 89502
Steve,
It's a response to this article.
Panel questions removal of C-130s(click)
"Click" back to The Reno Citizen