OC firefighters receive reinforcements to fight bushfires

Orange County firefighters will soon be better equipped to fight wildfires and save lives.

Pete Demetriou of KNX News reports that two of the Orange County Fire Authority's four helicopters were 1966 Super Hueys with outdated airframes and declining water-dropping capabilities.

Orange County Deputy Fire Chief Tim Perkins says the addition of two S-70 FIREHAWKs to the fire department's fleet will greatly improve its ability to fight fires and operate in extreme conditions.

“The FIREHAWK can drop 1,000 gallons of water. The aircraft is much safer with its two engines and gives us much more power to operate at higher altitudes at much higher temperatures than before,” Perkins said.

The total cost of the planes is $58 million, but given their estimated lifespan of over 20 years, they are a bargain – especially when their rapid deployment capability means they can save multimillion-dollar homes from the flames.

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