Regional firefighting agencies and SDG&E stand ready to combat catastrophic wildfires from the air ahead of peak wildfire season
CAL FIRE joined regional public safety partners at San Diego Gas & Electric’s (SDG&E) hanger at Gillespie Field to showcase the region’s robust aerial firefighting strength and preparedness. This event highlighted the critical role of aviation in wildfire response and the power of regional collaboration in protecting lives, property and natural resources.
As California continues to face longer and more intense fire risk, the ability to respond rapidly and effectively from the air has become a cornerstone of wildfire defense. The region’s combined aerial assets represent a unified commitment to early suppression and community safety.
“Year-round fire seasons demand an aerial response that’s fast, coordinated, and constantly evolving,” said Deputy Chief Ryan Villarino. “From advanced helitankers and night-flying operations to upgrades at Ramona Air Attack Base, our shared commitment to innovation and collaboration is protecting lives, property, and the environment. This partnership is not just about fighting fire’s, it's about building resilience for San Diego County and beyond.”
The multi-agency collaboration includes CAL FIRE/San Diego County Fire, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, the USDA Forest Service/Cleveland National Forest, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department and SDG&E. Together, they deploy a fleet of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft capable of rapid response, precision water and retardant drops and critical support in remote or rugged terrain.
"Wildfires are a year-round threat in our region," said San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez. "Our Sheriff's Deputies in the air and on the ground stand ready to work with our regional firefighting and law enforcement partners, as well as the public, to ensure the preservation of life and property."
While known for its sunny skies and beautiful beaches, San Diego County is also home to mountains, rugged terrain and sensitive habitats which pose a significant challenge to ground-based firefighting efforts. Aerial assets have proven to be a game-changer to overcome these obstacles, giving firefighters the high ground advantage and helping preserve personnel safety in dangerous terrain that would otherwise be inaccessible on foot.
“Extinguishing wildfires as quickly as possible before they become large and destructive is paramount, and wildland firefighting aircraft is a key component of our arsenal; without it, we would not be nearly as successful,” said Cleveland National Forest Fire and Aviation Chief Rick Marinelli.
This year, the region is equipped with 19 helicopters available for wildfire response, including
- CAL FIRE/San Diego County Fire’s exclusive-use contracted helicopter
- San Diego County Sheriff’s Office’s eight helicopters, including four exclusively used for firefighting
- Cleveland National Forest’s two helicopters
- San Diego Fire Rescue’s two helicopters capable of night flight, with a third coming into service in November of this year
- SDG&E’s five helicopters, including two exclusive-use Blackhawk helicopters
“Wildfires aren’t a matter of if, but when in San Diego,” said San Diego Fire-Rescue Assistant Chief of Operations Dan Eddy, “Our combined aerial resources and unwavering partnership are critical to our collective mission of protecting San Diegans and their homes from year-round fire risk. We look forward to adding to that strength with a new Bell 412EPX helicopter this fall.”
The benefits of having helicopters equipped for aerial firefighting are numerous:
- Rapid response: Helicopters offer speed and agility allowing quick deployment to wildfires.
- Precise water and fire-retardant drops: These helicopters can drop hundreds to thousands of gallons of water or fire retardant directly on hotspots to slow the fire’s spread.
- Access to remote areas and helitack support: Wildfires often occur in challenging rugged terrain, which is difficult for ground crews to access. In addition to water-drop capabilities, fire and public safety agencies rely on their aerial assets to transport firefighters and equipment into remote areas.
- Aerial reconnaissance and communication: Technology onboard these aircraft helps provide real-time information on fire behavior, direction and intensity, providing situational awareness for crews on the ground.
“The safety of our customers and the communities we serve is of the utmost importance at SDG&E and we are proud to collaborate with our regional firefighting agencies in San Diego’s aerial firefighting strategy,” said SDG&E President Scott Crider. “Our aviation fleet — including two Blackhawk helicopters — is equipped to respond rapidly and effectively when wildfires strike. By working in close coordination with CAL FIRE and other emergency partners, we’re helping to protect lives, property and the resilience of our region against the growing threat of catastrophic wildfires.”
As fire risk becomes more unpredictable, the region’s investment in aerial firefighting and interagency coordination remains a critical line of defense.