Military Choppers Ready To Fight Wildfires

Military Choppers Ready To Fight Wildfires

From www.NBCSanDiego.com

SAN DIEGO -- Local military aircraft, which sat idle during last year's firestorm, are now ready to attack if a major wildfire strikes San Diego.

The lack of military air support last October was a sore point for residents during the Cedar Fire.

"This is a big deal for San Diego," said County Supervisor Dianne Jacob. "It's something we didn't have last October."

The California Department of Forestry can now call on Navy and Marine helicopters and their pilots to help fight fires in San Diego County.

"I think we can get anywhere from six to maybe even 10, depending on where the deployment is with the active-duty Marines," said CDF Chief Mike Padilla.

The CDF and Navy choppers worked side by side Thursday in a demonstration. It has taken months of planning to get to this point, said Padilla.

"Work together to coordinate both radio transmissions, operations and training," said Padilla.

Military pilots who are already talented at mid-flight maneuvers are now becoming skilled in navigating past canyon walls, smoke and thermal updrafts. Radio equipment had to be installed on-board their aircraft so that they could talk with fire commanders. The result, firefighters say, is that the CDF can now call in reinforcements.

"It allows us to reach into an additional pool of aerial firefighting resources that we really didn't have before," said CDF Chief James M. Wright.

Fire officials think the so-called urban interfaces, where houses and what would normally be green areas meet, are the areas of greatest concern. Authorities think the military helicopters will make a big difference saving structures when they are called upon.

According to NBC 7/39, the CDF would call the shots in the event that the military craft are called in.

Posted 9/10/2004