DENVER -- Colorado officials said Tuesday they are ready for another busy fire season, even though the government has grounded the fire-fighting fleet of 33 air tankers because of safety concerns.

Dan Hopkins, spokesman for Gov. Bill Owens, said the state's emergency response team anticipated the groundings in April and authorized $1.1 million in emergency funds to put three, single-engine air tankers on standby. The state also moved 10 fire engines closer to vulnerable areas.

The state tested a similar system last year, using the three of the more nimble, single-engine tankers for early attacks on 52 fires. Only four grew into major fires.

"Obviously, this means there is one less tool you can use, but I think we've taken some good steps," Hopkins said. "The single-engine planes are good for early strikes and they were successful at containing fires before they got out of hand."

The Forest Service and the Interior Department are ending their contracts with companies for use of former military aircraft (pictured, left) that had been powerful weapons against wildfires. Federal officials said the planes posed an unacceptable safety risk.

Three of the planes crashed between 1994 and 2002, killing seven people. One of those crashes occurred in Estes Park in 2002 after one of the wings fell off.

The Forest Service grounded the contracted tanker fleet, but the planes returned to service after a new inspection system was developed. But last month, the National Transportation Safety Board said the safety and airworthiness of the fleet still could not be assured.

The aircraft were capable of dumping 1,700 to 2,500 gallons of water a minute, and were used primarily in initial attacks on fires and for protecting buildings.

Forest Service spokesman Dave Steinke said the agency has many other options, including helicopters and specially trained crews. He said the Forest Service ran out of slurry several years ago and still got the job done with smaller planes and crews.

"You have different tools in your toolbox. One is a hammer and the other is a bigger hammer. Some smaller fires may get bigger, but we have a big toolbox," Steinke said.

Tuesday's announcement was made as a red flag warning was issued for the Front Range. A red flag warning is issued to alert firefighters to the potential of extreme fire behavior, based on relative humidity levels and high winds.