Overview

• Cal Fire accepted delivery of two Sikorsky S-70i Firehawk helicopters on July 31, bringing its purpose-built fleet to 16 aircraft.
• Each Firehawk carries a 1,000-gallon water tank, night-vision systems, a fixed external hoist and room for a nine-member crew to enable around-the-clock missions.
• The helicopters are prepositioned across 11 counties, including Humboldt, Santa Clara and Riverside, to improve rapid response as fire season peaks.
• Gov. Gavin Newsom highlighted tens of thousands of recent lightning strikes and year-round fire risks as drivers for expanded aerial resources.
• State investments are filling the gap left by $450 million in nationwide forest management grant cuts to the U.S. Forest Service.