Communique' - California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

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Fire fi ghting helicopters Interagency program bolsters San Diego County’s fi re suppression power San Diego Sheriff Bill Kolender unveiled two Bell 205 A-1++ medium lift fi re fi ghting helicopters during a press conference at ASTREA base in El Cajon on July 8, 2005. The aircraft were purchased from Eagle Helicopters of Calgary using $3.5 million of county money and a $1.5 million grant from the county’s Indian casinos. Upon arrival, both new helicopters were inspected by sheriff’s aviation mechanics and test fl own by retired CDF Chief Pilot Cecil Gill. These are the fi rst two aircraft bought for the new regional fi re helicopter program the county created after the wildfi res of 2003. The county’s lack of fi refi ghting helicopters became a hot-button political issue after those fi res. The new Bell 205 program is dedicated to providing effi cient fi re suppression operations to all area fi re agencies. The fi re mission is the fi rst priority of these aircraft, but they will also be utilized to perform technical rescue operations when necessary. As of October 31, the interagency helicopter program had responded to 192 calls for service and taken action at over 120 incidents. The helicopters had fl own more than 440 hours and dropped over 398,950 gallons of water on vegetation fi res. The program is slowly migrating into the rescue phase, where the high altitude/hot temperature capabilities of these unique helicopters will become very benefi cial. The program personnel have completed the necessary hoist rescue training and have performed several successful rescues. Because these helicopters are owned by the county of San Diego, they do not have any restrictions on how they may be used. This recently allowed a unique and historic partnership between Above, CDF Director Dale Geldert and Deputy the copter program Director, Fire Protection Jim Wright, stand in front and a television of one of the new copters. production company Below, the entire 2005 San Diego Sheriff/CDF under contract to the Copter crew. Discovery Channel. Watch the Discovery Channel in early 2006 for an inside look into the lives and emergency response role of the CDF San Diego Unit helitack crew. “Outside of our relationship with our federal counterparts, I can think of no other cooperaagement Unit. The San Diego tive effort that has blossomed in Unit helitack staff spent nearly the way this program has,” said 400 fl ight hours this winter CDF Captain Steve Shoemaker. helping retired CDF Chief Pilot “We truly feel the support for this Cecil Gill in preparing the San program from throughout the Diego Sheriff’s Offi ce’s four most CDF chain of command, and the experienced pilots for the Super sheriff’s offi ce has overwhelm- Huey fi re mission. In addition ingly welcomed this partnership to the fl ight training, each pilot with the San Diego Unit.” completed an aviator variation of CDF provided unprecedented the Fire Fighter I-Basic academy logistical support during the including skills testing on shelter training period including loaner deployments, S-190 fi re behav- helicopters and technical experior, ICS 200 and CDF helitack tise from current and retired members of the Aviation Man- SAN DIEGO: continued on page 11 Communique’ 10
SAN DIEGO: continued from page 10 operations. Currently both Bell aircraft are CDF/USFS carded as are the ASTREA mechanics, four pilots and one fuel truck. Additionally, three of their MD 500 series helicopters are also carded with four additional MD 500 pilots and can deliver 80 to 100 gallons of water via the smaller Bambi bucket system. The fi re helicopters are staffed with one pilot, one CDF helitack captain and when necessary a crew chief. Both are equipped with a hoist, a simplex belly tank and a night sun search light. The Super Hueys are the larg- The Border 50 Fire started October 5 and quickly spread to both sides of the Mexico/ California border. The San Diego Unit responded, along with CDF Incident Command Team #8. Hot, windy weather, and steep, vegetation-covered terrain kept crews busy until October 8, when the fi re was contained at 4,100 acres. These photos of the San Diego sheriff’s fi re fi ghting helicopter, and CDF airtanker at work, were taken by Kari Greer of Kari Greer Photography. est and most powerful helicopters the sheriff’s department staff have ever fl own. Its pilots previously operated light observation helicopters, such as the MD 500 series, and before that, the Korean War-era Bell 47s, similar to those seen on the TV series “M*A*S*H.” The ASTREA program already has an excellent reputation in the law enforcement community as their pilots are some of the most experienced law enforcement pilots in the country. They are very familiar with the county and they know where the hazards are such as power lines, small landing strips and erratic winds. “Over the past few years I have watched them perform some heroically technical rescues with their helicopters and they have always been meticulous about safety,” said San Diego Unit Fire Apparatus Engineer Matt Streck. “We are extremely proud of the Sheriff’s Aviation Fire and Rescue program and look forward to the possibilities as we build this program together,” said Shoemaker. Summer-Fall 2005 11
Page 1 and 2: Summer Fall 2005 Communique’
Page 3 and 4: CHANGE: continued from page 2 tain
Page 5 and 6: 100 Years of CDF Not even overcast
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Page 15 and 16: Michael Jarvis Deputy Director, Com
Page 17 and 18: David Titus Deputy Director, Legisl
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Page 23 and 24: Firefi ghter Memorial and Aircraft
Page 25 and 26: Community appreciation in Shasta by

Communique' - California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

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