Supervisors Agree To Buy $38M Firehawk Helicopter From SDG&E

SAN DIEGO, CA — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved spending $38 million on a Sikorsky S-70 Firehawk helicopter from San Diego Gas & Electric for night flying.

The decision comes as California and the county enter peak wildfire season and day-or-night wildfire fighting capabilities remain vital for a regional response. However, the agreement will only bring the helicopter under the county's control next fall. Prior to the arrival of the new helicopter, Cal Fire will station a reserve Firehawk in San Diego County in the spring.

The county will pay $32 million for the vehicle and another $6 million to fit it with night-flying equipment up to Cal Fire standards. Of that, $23.8 million will come from bond proceeds.

"Every minute matters when wildfire strikes," Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer said. "This new helicopter provides San Diego County Fire with night-flying firefighting capacity -- protecting families while they sleep, saving lives, and preventing small fires from becoming disasters."

The Firehawk nearly triples the region's helicopter water-drop capacity, ensures dedicated night-flying capability in the region, and will be operated and maintained by Cal Fire.

Lawson-Remer said the initial attack at night can be critical to stopping fires before they expand into major disasters, as strong winds and dry conditions can cause small blazes to spread out of control before sunrise.

The Firehawk can carry 1,000 gallons of water per drop and has a longer flight time than current helicopters owned by the county.

"I don't want to jinx it, but I truly believe these investments have made a difference," Supervisor Jim Desmond said. "We haven't seen a major wildfire in our region in recent years, and that's not by luck -- it's because we've taken fire safety seriously and acted decisively."

The county will get the vehicle up to Cal Fire specifications, the same as those used in Los Angeles County, Orange County and the city of San Diego. The region uses 12 aerial firefighting vehicles, and the existing county firefighting helicopter last year made more than 1,400 water drops and 159 rescues.

"This aircraft represents a major leap forward in our ability to protect San Diego County," Cal Fire San Diego Unit Chief Tony Mecham said. "The Firehawk's capacity and endurance will allow us to respond faster, operate safely at night, and help contain wildfires before they threaten homes and communities."

The county has the ability to accept up to $5 million annually through 2035 from SDG&E to help fund the county's fire helicopter program. The utility company has pledged $3.3 million to the plan annually, but that could change subject to California Public Utilities Commission approval in future years.

— City News Service