Just in time for the peak of wildfire season, San Diego County’s first heli-hydrant is now accessible to the region’s fleet of fire-fighting helicopters to help combat wildfires.
This new 5,000-gallon water tank can be continuously refilled and remotely controlled by a helicopter pilot, just the way fire trucks hook up to hydrants on the street.
It takes approximately five minutes to fill a helicopter tank from empty.
North County Fire Protection District Chief Keith McReynolds says there are a lot of devastating wildfires in this region. His district partnered with the Rainbow Municipal Water Department and CAL FIRE San Diego to build the heli-hydrant.
“To have a dedicated water source like this, a water resource is incredibly valuable and we certainly will be using it, hopefully not too soon, but I’m sure it will eventually see some use,” McReynolds said.
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This partnership is known as the Rapid Aerial Water Supply system. It's designed to proactively combat wildfires and protect life and property.
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