Barboni.org

This is interesting – so says the UT FireBlog, a giant, water-dropping plane sitting in Lake Elsinore and not being used… how ’bout using it on the Santiago fire that’s approaching from the west (7 miles out) ???

After all the hassles and hangups to get the big Martin Mars water bomber down from Canada to use against San Diego County’s fires, the window of opportunity to put the big flying boat into action here may have closed.

Its arrival Wednesday afternoon was almost a full day late due to problems clearing customs. It then was barred from flying Thursday due to poor visibility.

With the county’s various wildfires now waning, fire commanders are debating whether any of their fires, though they’re still burning, lend themselves at this stage to the abilities of the Mars.

Officials are considering sending the plane to make water drops on the Horno/Ammo fire on Camp Pendleton Marine Base, or to fires elsewhere in Southern California, according to a San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokesman.

Meanwhile, the Mars continues to float in Lake Elsinore, awaiting a mission.

–Greg Gross, Breaking News Team