Cal Fire is getting more helicopters, airplanes, air tankers and more to fight off San Diego's upcoming wildfires. 🔥
The funding will allow Cal Fire to add 19 helicopters and five airplanes to its fleet for a contractual period of 90 to 120 days, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The additional aircraft will include three large air tankers designed to carry up to 4,000 gallons of retardant. The aircraft have been placed across California and will be pre-positioned to meet the needs of potential fire activity throughout the state. San Diego is one of several counties where the aircraft have been positioned, along with Riverside, Butte, Fresno, Humboldt, Lassen, Mariposa, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Luis Obisbo, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Tulare and Tuolumne.Sign up for NBC San Diego newsletters.
"The deployment of more aircraft dedicated to the people of California marks a historic milestone with the highest number of firefighting aircraft ever available for initial attack in the state for the second consecutive year," Cal Fire Director and Fire Chief Joe Tyler said. "The significant rainfall California experienced this winter has led to a substantial increase of highly flammable fuels, which contribute to the rapid escalation of fires," Tyler added.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Religious center in San Jose catches fireA religious center in San Jose caught fire on Friday, fire officials said.
Read more »
Families, activists react to latest San Diego County in-custody deathsA 27-year-old man died at UCSD Medical Center after being found unresponsive in his jail cell on Wednesday, and a 66-year-old man died in-custody at Alvarado Hospital on Monday.
Read more »
Longtime leader of San Diego's tuna industry dies at 94Head of American Tunaboat Association, Augie Felando battled foreign competition and environmentalists in an effort to keep once-thriving fishing community afloat
Read more »
San Diego's Weather Forecast for June 30, 2023: Warming up this holiday weekend!Things are warming up through the holiday weekend with dangerous heat impacting some inland, mountain and desert areas.
Read more »
San Diego ordinance bans homeless encampments in public spacesSan Diego's mayor has signed the Unsafe Camping Ordinance into law, which prohibits tent encampments in all public spaces throughout the city if shelter beds are available.
Read more »