The San Diego County Board of Supervisors have approved the $38M purchase of a S-70 Firehawk from San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E).

The decision comes as California and the county enter peak wildfire season and day-or-night wildfire fighting capabilities remain vital for a regional response. The aircraft will be operational by 2026 and prior to its arrival Cal Fire will station a reserve Firehawk in San Diego County.

The county will pay $32 million for the Firehawk and further $6 million to bringing it up to Cal Fire standards for night flying.

"Every minute matters when wildfire strikes," Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer said. "This new helicopter provides San Diego County Fire with night-flying firefighting capacity protecting families while they sleep, saving lives and preventing small fires from becoming disasters. Night operations can be critical to stopping fires before they expand into major disasters, as strong winds and dry conditions can cause small blazes to spread out of control before sunrise".

The Firehawk will triple the region's helicopter water-drop capacity and ensures dedicated night-flying capability in the region as the Firehawk can carry 1,000 gallons of water per drop.

Supervisor Jim Desmond said. "I believe these investments have made a difference, we haven't seen a major wildfire in our region in recent years, and that's not by luck it's because we've taken fire safety seriously and acted decisively."

"This aircraft represents a major leap forward in our ability to protect San Diego County, the Firehawk's capacity and endurance will allow us to respond faster, operate safely at night, and help contain wildfires before they threaten homes and communities." Said Cal Fire San Diego Unit Chief Tony Mecham.