San Diego Regional Fire Helicopter Program
Encyclopedia
The San Diego Regional Fire Helicopter Program was established during the summer of 2002 to fill a dangerous gap in aerial firefighting
resources in San Diego Countyhttp://www.10news.com/news/1525525/detail.html. For several years, two Bell helicopters from Kachina Helicopters were used under contract by the County. A Bell 212HP was purchased by the City and put into in service in July 2005 http://www.sandiego.gov/fireandems/about/copter1.shtml with the help of $200,000 from the San Diego Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies. In early 2008, the City purchased a Bell 412
which was put in service in August. Owned by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, the helicopters are known by the call signs Copter 1 and Copter 2, respectively. They are capable of carrying 375 gallons of water or retardant and up to 15 personnel. Their most common firefighting application is initial attack, performing quick knockdown of brush fires
in urban canyons and preserves, allowing ground ground crews easier suppression. During major conflagrations, they will serve as support units, ferrying supplies and airlifting
injured firefighters as well as routine water dropping. Though primarily used in wildland firefighting, the helicopters have seen limited use in fighting large structure fires as well. In addition to firefighting, the helicopters are an invaluable tool in performing aerial rescues such as extracting injured hikers
from areas inaccessible by ground crews as well as airlifting critically injured victims from accident scenes.
Aerial firefighting
Aerial firefighting is the use of aircraft and other aerial resources to combat wildfires. The types of aircraft used include fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Smokejumpers and rappellers are also classified as aerial firefighters, delivered to the fire by parachute from a variety of fixed-wing...
resources in San Diego Countyhttp://www.10news.com/news/1525525/detail.html. For several years, two Bell helicopters from Kachina Helicopters were used under contract by the County. A Bell 212HP was purchased by the City and put into in service in July 2005 http://www.sandiego.gov/fireandems/about/copter1.shtml with the help of $200,000 from the San Diego Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies. In early 2008, the City purchased a Bell 412
Bell 412
The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212 model, the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor.-Design and development:...
which was put in service in August. Owned by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, the helicopters are known by the call signs Copter 1 and Copter 2, respectively. They are capable of carrying 375 gallons of water or retardant and up to 15 personnel. Their most common firefighting application is initial attack, performing quick knockdown of brush fires
Helitack
Helitack refers to "helicopter-delivered fire resources", and is the system of managing and using helicopters and their crews to perform aerial firefighting and other firefighting duties, primarily initial attack on wildfires...
in urban canyons and preserves, allowing ground ground crews easier suppression. During major conflagrations, they will serve as support units, ferrying supplies and airlifting
Air ambulance
An air ambulance is an aircraft used for emergency medical assistance in situations where either a traditional ambulance cannot reach the scene easily or quickly enough, or the patient needs to be transported over a distance or terrain that makes air transportation the most practical transport....
injured firefighters as well as routine water dropping. Though primarily used in wildland firefighting, the helicopters have seen limited use in fighting large structure fires as well. In addition to firefighting, the helicopters are an invaluable tool in performing aerial rescues such as extracting injured hikers
Mountain rescue
Mountain rescue refers to search and rescue activities that occur in a mountainous environment, although the term is sometimes also used to apply to search and rescue in other wilderness environments. The difficult and remote nature of the terrain in which mountain rescue often occurs has resulted...
from areas inaccessible by ground crews as well as airlifting critically injured victims from accident scenes.