CAL FIRE’S AERIAL FIREFIGHTING fleet, the largest civilian force in the world, has added two modern aircraft that can fly farther, operate at night and carry more water.
The delivery of the pair of Sikorsky S-70i Firehawk helicopters from Colorado-based United Rotorcraft last week marked the fulfillment of a multi-year plan to modernize and bolster the state fire agency’s fleet, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire, which flies more than 60 fixed wing and rotary aircraft, will transfer six Vietnam-era Bell Hueys, the workhorses for about four decades, to the U.S. Forest Service, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday at McClellan Airfield in Sacramento.
The twin-engine Sikorskys have multiple upgrades from the Hueys for firefighting with greater safety, range and speed, according to Cal Fire Chief and Director Joe Tyler.
The Firehawks can also engage in firefighting operations at night with increased night-vision and low-altitude compatibilities, something Tyler said was crucial during the devastating fires in the Palisades area of Los Angeles in January.
“At the end of the day, these helicopters are here to serve and support the people of California — both our residents and our visitors,” Tyler said at a press conference. “It is to protect our resources. Having the largest civil fleet in the world, I am proud to support the women and men who are flying these and make it safer for them,” he said.
The new helicopters can carry more than 1,000 gallons of water, about three times as much as the Hueys, according to Cal Fire and the governor’s office. They have a permanent external hoist and can carry more crew members.
Chris Renner, a Cal Fire forestry fire pilot based in Sacramento, said he chose to join Cal Fire because it had a reputation for taking care of its air fleet. He praised the training and maintenance crews that keep the agency’s aircraft and teams ready and safe for their missions.
“When it’s all said and done and that aircraft is sitting on the ramp, ready to dispatch to serve the people of California, sometimes that’s front-page news. But what you don’t get to see is the hundreds of people behind the scenes who made that happen,” Renner said, and thanked his colleagues for their service.
Newsom similarly thanked Cal Fire pilots and crews for their work as the state enters its peak fire season. He said the additional helicopters would increase the agency’s ability to pre-position assets during times of high fire risk and would aid prevention efforts.
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