Acquisition of a third
Sikorsky S-70 FIREHAWK helicopter has been authorized for the
California's Los Angeles County Fire Department. The county's Board
of Supervisors authorized the Consolidated Fire Protection District
of Los Angeles County to begin the acquisition process for the
purchase of an additional FIREHAWK aircraft after the busy 2003
wildfire season.
Three Sikorsky S-70 FIREHAWK helicopters are now in service on
the U.S. west coast, two with LA County and a third with the U.S.
Army National Guard in Oregon. The agile multi-mission aircraft
have proved themselves time and again in emergency service. The
FIREHAWK's payload ability allows it to carry water and fire
suppressant in its 1,000-gallon tank to the fire scene. It also can
carry crews, fuel and equipment to support the operation.
"The acquisition of another Sikorsky FIREHAWK is a momentous
step forward, given the payload capacity, the fully redundant
nature of its twin engines, and its 1,000 gallon tank capacity for
dropping water on fast-moving brush fires," said Jeff Pino,
Sikorsky senior vice president for business development. "This
should give our customer a bigger advantage in gaining the upper
hand over quick-spreading fires."
Los Angeles County took delivery of its first two FIREHAWKs in
2001 to serve emergency needs in the sprawling metro area, the
first local government agency to purchase the aircraft. The
FIREHAWKs provide the county with advanced technology fire-fighting
and paramedic capabilities. Acquisition of the of the third
aircraft includes support equipment, training, emergency medical
service interiors, mission avionics, water tanks and extended
landing gear.
Sikorsky's first S-70 FIREHAWK, a new UH-60L helicopter, is
serving the U.S. Army National Guard in Oregon. Congress has funded
two more UH-60L FIREHAWK aircraft, one each for Army National Guard
units in California and Florida. Three conversion kits have also
been appropriated.
The advantages of the FIREHAWK are its ability to drop fire
suppressant accurately over the target area, its rapid transit to
and from the water source and its flexible options for refilling
the water tank. The net effect is a greater amount of gallons per
hour compared to other delivery means.
The helicopter can refill its 1,000-gallon tank in two ways. The
aircraft can land next to a water source while water is pumped
aboard via a connector on the side of the tank. Or the helicopter
can hover over a water source and water can be pumped aboard
through a snorkel hose in one minute.
Additionally, the FIREHAWK features year-round multi-mission
emergency response capabilities for high altitude hoist work and
swift water rescue. Other missions the FIREHAWK is well suited for
include emergency medical evacuation of patients on litters and
transport of Federal Emergency Management Agency rescue teams and
their equipment for earthquake disaster response. The aircraft are
equipped with rescue hoists.