In the rest of the world helicopters are used as initial attack, finding spot fires or lighting strikes and extinguishing the blaze before the fire gets to large.
This means multiple teams all over the country with a medium to large bucket (212 or AS350 ect) and a team of fire fighters who winch in to target the small blaze. Then let the heavy bomber create the breaks for the larger fronts.
What does out initial attack consist of a couple of guys in a jetranger mapping out where the small puffs of smoke are...
I am no expert but I am sure there is a use for professionally trained crews like this for initial attack and search and rescue provided by the fed's at a national level. I think that might upset a few of the chiefs out there.... maybe one day this issue will not be an arena for political grand standing