California’s two U.S. Senators are calling on the Forest Service to establish a night firefighting air unit in Northern California. A night flying unit has existed in Southern California since 2012 with the capability to drop water and fire retardant, and to deploy fire personnel in remote roadless areas. A letter to the Forest Service Chief points out that last year’s biggest fire in California, the 76,000 acres Mosquito Fire in Placer and El Dorado Counties, started at night and may have been quickly contained if night flying resources had been available in the north-ops area. The letter also highlights the fact that 7 of the 10 largest fires in state history were in the north-ops jurisdiction, with 5 of them in the last 5 years. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla assure the Forest Service that the Senate is ready to financially support the expansion of a night firefighting unit in the North State.