Navy helicopters teamed with California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection units Aug. 15 to conduct aerial firefighting against several wildfires in eastern San Diego County.
At CALFIRE’s request for immediate response support, the Navy is providing three firefighting helicopters equipped with buckets for aerial water drops to support firefighting efforts in San Diego County.
Helicopter Sea Combat squadrons 3 and 21 are providing aircrews flying specially equipped MH-60S helicopters to assist CALFIRE in conducting aerial water drops.
Navy HSC squadrons regularly train for this mission and are prepared to conduct firefighting missions at the Navy’s Southern California offshore training ranges, and they conduct semiannual joint training with CALFIRE to ensure interoperability and an immediate response capability in support of local authorities for emergency events.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, August 17, 2012; Image: US Navy