The Sikorsky S70i Firehawk was credited with helping firefighters make up ground on the Highland fire in Aguanga.
Cal Fire’s new Sikorsky water-dropping helicopters that also perform rescues can carry a pilot, two captains, an operations supervisor and up to nine others. around midday Monday, Oct. 30, in rural Aguanga, the combination of gusty Santa Ana winds and the resulting low humidity in the brush threatened to create a blaze that would be difficult to quickly stop.
Copter Three-Zero-One as it’s called, is one of the state firefighting agency’s new Sikorsky S70i Firehawks that can fly at night and carry far more water and crew members than the Vietnam War-era Super Hueys that Cal Fire is replacing. Cal Fire received approval from the governor to purchase 12 Sikorskys in 2018 and four more in 2022 for about $24 million each.Nighttime can be an ideal time to attack the flames as winds often die down and humidity in the brush increases.
“By daylight the next day, due to a combination of C301’s efforts and improved weather conditions, the fire had slowed significantly, allowing ground resources to make significant progress in stopping the fire,” Cal Fire said in a social-media message touting the aircraft’s contributions.Cal Fire’s new Sikorsky water-dropping helicopters that also perform rescues can carry a pilot, two captains, an operations supervisor and up to nine others.
One of the captains aboard Copter 301 on Monday was Tim Ellena, who is assigned to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department’s Hemet-Ryan Air Attack Base.
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