-Editorial
Firefighters from Imperial County are assisting in statewide wildfire suppression efforts as two major blazes burn in Southern California.
A Type 3 Brush Engine from Imperial County departed with units from the Holtville Fire Department and Imperial County Fire Department to aid in battling the Rosa Fire in Riverside County. The wildfire has scorched approximately 1,700 acres and is 21% contained. Upon arrival, crews were immediately assigned to the fireline.
The Rosa Fire task force may remain deployed for up to 14 days, depending on fire behavior and containment progress. The current Imperial County crew includes Captain M. Bush, Engineer F. Lugo, Firefighter A. Garcia, and Probationary Firefighter J. Armenta.
Separately, the El Centro Fire Department deployed a Type 6 OES engine to the Gold Fire in San Bernardino County at approximately 2:30 a.m. The crew—consisting of a captain, a fire engineer, and a firefighter—is operating under the leadership of Battalion Chief Andrew Miller, who is serving as Strike Team Leader. The team is working alongside engines from Holtville, Calipatria, Viejas, and the town of Independence in Inyo County.
The Gold Fire, burning in the Big Bear Lake area, has charred an estimated 936 acres and is 5% contained as of the latest report. Crews continue to work in challenging conditions to slow the fire’s spread.
To combat these recurring fires, California has completed a major upgrade to its aerial firefighting capabilities with the arrival of the final two Sikorsky S-70i Fire Hawk helicopters at McClellan Airfield in Sacramento. The delivery marks the conclusion of a multi-year transition from Vietnam-era Huey UH-1H helicopters to the advanced Fire Hawk model at all ten CAL FIRE Helitack bases. Initiated in 2018 and rolled out gradually since 2020, the modernization effort expands the state’s ability to conduct large-scale water drops, operate at night, and transport more personnel.
The Fire Hawk can carry up to 1,000 gallons of water—nearly triple the capacity of its predecessor—and is equipped for night operations using night vision goggles, enabling round-the-clock firefighting in challenging terrain. CAL FIRE officials noted that this capability was critical during the Palisades Fire earlier this year when nighttime water drops helped stop the fire from reaching Mandeville Canyon and the 405 Freeway. The helicopters also feature increased crew capacity, a permanently affixed hoist for rescue operations, and enhanced flight safety systems.
The addition of the Fire Hawks further strengthens what CAL FIRE says is now the largest civilian helicopter firefighting fleet in the world. Alongside other recent acquisitions, such as the C-130 Hercules airtanker, the investment reflects a long-term strategy to better protect California’s communities, property, and natural resources.
CAL FIRE Director Joe Tyler credited the achievement to the department’s aviation program, emphasizing that the upgraded fleet equips firefighters with the most advanced tools available to address increasingly complex wildland fire conditions.
