Firefighting aircraft won't be ready in '08

[Wrightwood]

[clint]

Well, that's one good thing about being surrounded by USFS land instead of CAlFIRE lands,
having a county fire agency that thinks about wildland fire. And we have some great management talent
in our department.
Interesting that San Diego is getting so much federal and state attention when the citizens
of San Diego county have voted multiple times not to form a county fire department like other
large So Cal counties. LA County has a very advanced wildland fire capability which our county
wants to use as a model for some aspects of our county wildland capability.
Perhaps the feds and state should do less to bail out a very wealthy county like San Diego and
let the local tax payers pick up more of the responsibility.

[Wildman]

Los Angeles County and City Fire Departments have been the leaders in utilizing helicopters in a multi-role capacity for many, many years.  LA County is replacing it's aging fleet of helicopters with the FireHawk...a version of the military Blackhawk adapted to the fire department role.  They can carry 1000 gallons of water and refill in minutes with a snorkel.  They do fly with night vision goggles and will fly missions at night if the risks warrant it.  LA County is capable of putting over 12 water dropping helicopters, two Canadair 415 Super Scoopers and a Heavy Lift Sky Crane into service without calling on any outside agency.  They made the political and financial commitment to their citizens long ago that they would be able to stand alone and make aggressive initial attacks on wildland fires.  When they are fighting fire, the helicopters are used to transport rescue workers and to sling hoist victims from the ground to the ship.

In San Bernardino County there are no Fire Department helicopters.  CDF leases one of the Sheriff's ships during fire season for fires on State land .  We occasionally will have use of a patrol ship with a Bambi Bucket (around 100 gallons) if they are free.  We depend on State and Federal aircraft to fight our fires and when they are not available because of heavy fire activity, our firefighters do without.
Lots of reasons why this is.... mostly money, commitment and desire on the part of those who make these decisions (I suspect that would be politicians, mainly). 

Would having Firehawks responding to the Ludlow Incident have made a difference?  One Firehawk could transport an entire MCI team with gear in a 1/4 of the time of ground units and then return to the trauma center with 6 patients.
We're the largest contiguous County in the US with huge areas of wildland/urban interface and we really need to be able to respond quickly and appropriately.

[All Day, All Night]

First had, the firehawk is the best bird I have had the chance to fly in... albeit, just twice.

Not only can they carry a lot more water, but at the same time carry a complete camp crew team of 15. They are on the pad regularly at camp 19 full of water and ready to carry a crew of 15. They drop them off on a ridge and then make the first drop. It is an amazing tool...

LAFD is due to receive their new helicopters to replace the older Bell 412. They are made by Augusta. I have no idea them model, but they are supposed to be able to carry more crew/patients and drop more water.

It is pretty amazing. Combined with both the LACoFD and LAFD, we can get 15 copters in the air for a brush fire right now! Thats not counting the two sky cranes and the scoopers (over rated planes).

[kk_gizmo]

mostly money, commitment and desire on the part of those who make these decisions (I suspect that would be politicians, mainly).

I know a couple of people who work with the county and get a first hand look at their policies and mode of operation. Basically, they don't want to do anything until someone sues them. The aircraft situation seems in line with that policy. Too bad the county suffers from such ineptness at the decision making level.

[clint]

That's funny. The county has been and is incredibly responsive to the needs of Wrightwood as far as taking immediate and aggressive actions to mitigate the threat of wildfire. At every level from the Board of Supervisors, first Bill Postmus and now Brad Mitzelfelt, through the hierarchy of the County Fire Department, particularly Chief Dennen, Assistant Chief Brierty, and Battalion Chief Wessel, and right down to the line staff that maintain the relationships like Tim Tate, the county never hesitated to do what was needed. And we never had to sue them. I would say your friends have an ax to grind with the county and are apparently not in a position where they can accurately judge what is happening.

[Wildman]

Clint...You are spot on and I agree 1,000 percent with every thing that you say about kkgizmos friends (who sound like whiners who got passed over for promotion) and the fact that San Diego County has spent years getting a free ride without stepping up to to the plate . 

I didn't mean to imply that any of our folks were not incredibly responsive...they are and will be and we enjoy a relationship that is envied around the state.  We have one of the most respected and innovative County Administrative Officer who has implemented a Service First program and ethic that he personally taught to every county employee.  Supervisor Mitzelfelt has stepped up and made a huge difference in just the short time he has held office.  I have always been impressed with his Marine Corps Officer work ethic and manner.  County Fire has grown and expanded in ways we never dreamed possible directly because of the innovative and compassionate leadership of the Board and Pat Dennan and Peter Brierty.  When you look at what has been accomplished by the folks you mentioned in such a short period of time, it is simply astounding (and no one got sued).    The politicians I refer to are no longer in office (either elected or appointed) but set the stage years ago for what we have or don't have now. 

That being said.... there are no County Fire Department helicopters that can respond immediately because they are stationed in the County....are under the direction of County Fire and not a State or Federal Agency.  In my version of a perfect world, there would be.