Firefighters in Contra Costa County are stepping up their efforts to increase aerial firefighting by introducing a new helicopter ahead of extreme fire danger this weekend.
Con Air 1 was unveiled Friday at Buchanan Field Airport in Concord. It will be used to put out flames from the sky and respond to medical emergencies.
"Recent Red Flag days and recent significant fires accompanied with tremendous unit drawdown makes the addition of this aircraft even more useful for the community," said Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Kevin Platt.
The aircraft is capable of carrying up to 180 gallons of water. Pilot Chris Beasley, alongside a fire captain paramedic, will have the ability to arrive at a fire within minutes.
"We bring a lot of precision. We can get into tight spots, very small water sources, and drop with high precision on the fire," Beasley said.
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