Southern California Acquires Largest Firefighting Helicopters in the World

Emergency - Emergency Services - Firefighting

In Orange County and Ventura Counties, firefighters now have access to two of the largest helicopters ever made designed for combatting fires. They will be part of a new disaster response team known as the Quick Response Force that debuted Tuesday, June 15th. This task force is one of the best-equipped of its kind in the state, and authorities are confident their efficacy will reduce the damage caused by future wildfires.

The helicopters in question are Chinook helitankers. Each is equipped to carry a load of 3,000 gallons of water or fire-retardant fluid. Those in charge view this increased load capacity as an “important tool” in fighting future fires.

Firefighters in Southern California already have access to several fire-fighting aircraft, including the Sikorsky S-61, which has a payload of roughly 1,000 gallons of water. These types of helicopters have proven invaluable in responding quickly to developing fires in attempts to minimize damage. Since Southern California is prone to so many wildfires every year, millions of residents stand to lose their property and even homes when they strike.

As is, it’s expected the Quick Response Force will allow firefighters to coordinate their response times much more quickly than has been the case so far. However, until the effects of these Chinooks are seen in action, authorities can only hope that their planning efforts for this summer’s upcoming wildfire season have been enough to provide aerial firefighting services.

Predictions for fires in the Southern California area estimate that this year may be a particularly damaging one, as conditions in the area are already historically dryer than in recent years at this time. That could mean we’ll see the Chinooks in action sooner rather than later, allowing us to analyze their full impact on a dangerous fire-related situation.

On Monday, June 14th, audiences were treated to a sneak preview of the Chinook’s capabilities at a news conference organized by firefighting authorities and community leaders in the SoCal area. The helitanker showed off its hovering capabilities and dumping equipment, dropping a 3,000-gallon load of water for cameras and spectators.

Photo Credit: Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer