New helicopter arrives for Sonoma firefighting

Boggs Mountain Helitack base in Lake County, responsible for the Sonoma, Clear Lake and Napa regions for firefighting air support, just got a new S70i Firehawk to replace its older UH-1H model, an outdated helicopter first introduced into military service in 1959 in Vietnam.

Cal Fire announced the arrival of its updated fleet in a June 29 press release, noting the state fire agency’s increased capability with both firefighting and rescue helicopters. The new Firehawk model features improved flight safety and power margins, according to the announcement. The former UH-1H Super Huey had a payload of 324 gallons, a cruise speed of 126 mph and an endurance of two hours. The new model improves in each one of those categories with a 1,000-gallon tank for foam or water, a cruise speed of 160 mph and an endurance of two and a half hours.

In addition to its own firefighting capabilities, it can transport a ground-based firefighting crew of nine. It also includes an external hoist that speeds the response and duration of rescue missions. The chopper can also be used to conduct mapping and reconnaissance, medical evacuations and carry internal cargo loads.

The Boggs Mountain helicopter is among seven such models being put in place in California this year.

Although the Firehawk will replace the UH-1H as the primary form of air support for Cal Fire, the agency will hold on to the Super Hueys as a part of the largest civil firefighting air force in the world at 60 aircraft.

For more information, visit fire.ca.gov.

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