CAL FIRE Aviation Program

CAL FIRE Intel 641 (CI-641) More than mapping CAL FIRE Intel 641, a dedicated incident awareness and assessment aircraft, gathered information over the #franklinfire. Using specialized cameras sensitive to heat, operators interpret and provide real-time updates on #firebehavior and potential threats that are sometimes not visible to the naked eye. @calfire #aviation

Never an off season. The first of five cohorts began their annual Helicopter Continued Professional Training (HPCT) this week at the @calfire Aviation Training Center (CATC). Even in its temporary space, CATC’s first #extendedreality simulator racked up some hours. The # portable hoistrescue #sim gives us the opportunity to practice multiple scenarios in a low risk environment. The #simulator puts the rescuer in an augmented environment using #vr technology that’s programmable to create various scenarios. During the 6-day class, crewmembers and pilots from across the state refresh their avionics and safety skills in the classroom, then practice those skills during day and night training exercises. #safetyfirst #training #helicopter #sikorsky #s70i #wildlandfire #aviation #nvg #aerialfirefighting #firehawk #firefighting #

As we celebrate National Aviation History Month, we recognize the ingenuity, boldness and strength of character of the people who keep CAL FIRE Aviation at the forefront of #aerialfirefighting. For nearly a century, #firefighting from the air has evolved and through innovation has pushed the boundaries of possibilities. @calfire now operates the largest civilian aerial firefighting fleet in the world thanks to the continued dedication of the CAL FIRE Aviation team. From the early modifications of agricultural planes to the complete transformation of the #c130hercules and from the iconic #s2t to the modern #s70i CAL FIRE HAWK, CAL FIRE’s aerial fleet continues to redefine the limits of firefighting capabilities. As we reflect on our #history, we honor the memory of those souls we’ve lost in our exploration and mission, and we pay tribute to the daring individuals who have shaped and continue to shape the future of aerial firefighting and contribute to a rich aviation history. #aviationtechnician #avionics #pilot #flightengineer #helitack helicopter #huey #ov10 #kingair #lodd #neverforget

CAL FIRE Tulare Unit’s Porterville Air Attack Base personnel faced some interesting weather yesterday while returning from the Rifle Incident in Kern County. Air Attack 410, Tanker 76, and Tanker 78 landed at Bakersfield Jet Center as a dust storm swept through several Central Valley counties. #DustStorm #CALFIRE #TulareCounty #Bakersfield

As we express our gratitude to our nation’s veterans today, we at @calfire aviation want to acknowledge those who served in #militaryaviation. There’s a profound and valuable connection between #CALFIRE and the #military. Many of our #aviation personnel are veterans. Pilots, #avionics specialists, technicians, crew members - you’ll find a #veteran in every role. Even our fleet has a rich military heritage. Our headquarters operates from a former #AirForce base, another testament to our shared history. On this #veteransday we pay tribute to all those who served and their families for their #courage #sacrifice and #commitment. To our CAL FIRE veterans who have shaped our aviation program, thank you for your military service. Your dedication and skill have led to the development of incredible #aircraft and the formidable crew members who now wear a CAL FIRE #uniform . @goarmy @marines @usnavy @usairforce @spaceforcedod @uscg #armedforces #pilot #ov10 #s2t #sikorskys70i #firehawk #c130h #huey #army #marines #navy #airforce #spaceforce #coastguard #aerial #firefighting #airtanker

Good morning from @calfire #aviation where there’s been a #changeintheweather #aerialfirefighting #airtanker #c130hercules #ov10 #sunrise #clouds

Ride along with the CAL FIRE Boggs Mountain Helitack crew on a recent air rescue training operation. The CAL FIRE HAWK, a Sikorsky S70i firefighting helicopter, is also equipped with an external hoist for rescue missions. This specialized rescue technique involves highly trained firefighters being lowered from a hovering helicopter to an injured or trapped person below. Once secured to a harness or stokes basket, both the victim and rescuer are then hoisted into the helicopter and flown to a landing zone.

While you were sleeping… Night operations have stayed active over the last week with water droppers and Night Helicopter Coordinator (HLCO) flying nearly 40 #NVG hours. 20 of those hours have been on the #shoefire in Northern California where they’ve dropped almost 100,000 gallons of water under NVGs. Check out the #meteor CAL FIRE Aviation night HLCO caught on camera. #nightoperations #aerialfirefighting #helicopter #hlco #wildlandfire #aviation

This year’s California Firefighters Memorial Ceremony held special significance for CAL FIRE Aviation as we payed tribute to CAL FIRE Assistant Chief Joshua Bischof and CAL FIRE Fire Captain Timothy Rodriguez, who, along with contract pilot Tony Sousa, lost their lives in a helicopter crash while battling a fire in August 2023. Honoring the memory of 7 @calfire firefighters and 36 others who made the ultimate sacrifice, CAL FIRE Aviation participated in a flyover during the procession. Among the aircraft in the flyover was Tanker 73, based out of Hemet-Ryan Air Attack Base, where Chief Bischof and Captain Rodgriguez had once been assigned. #firefightersmemorial #firefighter #lodd #aviation @calfirerru

Scenes from air resources making water and retardant drops on the #GlenhavenFire. Thanks to rapid deployment of resources from our Emergency Command Center, helicopters and air tankers were quick in responding to the fire.

Ridin’ with Boggs Mountain Helitack! The Seigler Fire in Lake County was half an acre and running uphill when Boggs Mountain Helitack arrived and took action, cutting line with hand tools. After deploying the crew, Copter 601 found a water source and began supporting the crew on the ground with water drops. Located in #lakecounty , Boggs is one of CAL FIRE’s ten helitack bases that are strategically positioned throughout California. The #helitack program is one part of the @calfire #aviation program. Their rapid response is vital to the mission of keeping 95% of fires to 10 acres or less. #aerialfirefighting #firehawk #firefighting #helicopter #pilot #safetyfirst

As #firefighters on the ground or in the air, we are in this together. Paying tribute to the souls lost 23 years ago, we honor their #bravery and remember those they left behind. As first responders, we are united in #duty and know the loss of one affects all. @fdny #10house - home to #laddercompany10 and #enginecompany10 - sits across the street from the #worldtradecenter . They were #first to respond on #september11 They lost 5 men.