Supervisor Kathryn Barger recommended the review, saying she hoped to expand the county’s fleet of fixed-wing craft and helicopters, possibly in partnership with the state.
Her motion calls for a review of whether the aerial fleet is adequate given “more extreme fire behavior” created by dry brush, long droughts, fierce Santa Ana winds and a virtually year-round fire season. Fires are covering distances in hours that used to take days to burn, Barger noted.
The last such review was completed in October 2016.
The board also directed staffers to look at how state resources are deployed and prioritized when multiple fires are underway.
“When several fast-moving fires burn through various regions in California, the mutual aid system may be challenged to meet the demand, especially for critically needed air resources,” according to the motion.
L.A. County had to turn down a request for help in fighting the Camp Fire in Northern California because of extreme fire danger here, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby told the board last week. And crews in the north battling that deadly blaze were unable to lend resources to the south.
Osby said then that the department has two more Sikorsky helicopters on order and scheduled for delivery next year, but the department needs more aircraft that can be flown at night.
“We’re (using) the only aircraft around that has night-flying capability,” Osby said. “As you could see, we need more. But we were out there flying until we couldn’t fly anymore.”
Fixed-wing aircraft cannot fly when wind speeds exceed 100 mph.
When Ventura County called for help with the Woolsey Fire, which originated across the county line on Nov. 8, Los Angeles County assigned four air squads, two Super Scoopers, one helitender and one helitanker, in addition to ground crews and support, according to a major incident report filed by Osby.
The county owns its fleet of Sikorsky S-70 Firehawks and Bell 412 helicopters and leases larger equipment like an Erickson Aircrane helitanker and two Bombardier CL-415 Super Scoopers.
The department had originally planned to release an Erickson Aircrane helitanker at the end of its lease term on Nov. 12. To battle the Woolsey Fire and manage other fire danger, that lease was extended to Nov. 26. The Super Scoopers are leased from Quebec through Nov. 29.
A report is expected back in 90 days.
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Jason Zink says
Why doesn’t Supervisor Barger ask AV “Aerospace Valley” too build our own fleet for LA COUNTY and California Firefighting efforts. Create local high paying jobs instead of supporting Canada and out of state jobs. “Made in LA County and State” policy! AV will supply America and the World with the most advanced fleet with today’s technology not 1950 technology. Common sense local jobs.
Tim Scott says
As far as I know there has never been a helicopter built in the AV, other than my old boss building a kit-copter in his garage. Sounds like there might be room for a start-up there Jason. How about you lease yourself a big hanger, pay a license fee to Bell or Sikorsky, and hire a bunch of folks to build firefighting helicopters. I’m sure there would be a market and you would get return on the several millions of dollars you would have to invest to get started.
Right behind you man, go get ’em!
Turd Ferguson says
Maybe you could start with the LEAPS plane since it is not successful in reducing crime.Maybe you could start with the LEAPS plane since it is not successful in reducing crime.Raymond Rex or Marvin could pour water out of a bucket and put out fires.Raymond Rex or Marvin could pour water out of a bucket and put out fires.It would be more than it is doing now.It would be more than it is doing now.$90,000.00 a month for LEAPS.$90,000.00 a month for LEAPS.For ten years.For ten years.That is $10,800,000.00.That is $10,800,000.00.What a waste of tax dollars.What a waste of tax dollars.They said it would lower crime.They said it would lower crime.It has not lowered crime.It has not lowered crime.Crime goes up.Crime goes up.Time to ignore those liars and fight the fires.Time to ignore those liars and fight the fires.No to LEAPS.No to LEAPS.Yes to fighting fires.Yes to fighting fires.No to LEAPS.No to LEAPS.
Tom says
Great point, but the price the county would be charged for one bird from any aerospace company local, from Canada we can get 4. Plus guess who’s paying that bill? Us the tax payers. Plus the amount of time it would take to draw plans, build then test. We’re looking at 5 years minimum before any home built bird would fly in a fire.
Jason Zink says
I suggested this to ex Supervisor Antonovich 5 years ago. If we can spend $100 billion on New B-21 Bomber why not $2 Billion on this that will be actually used for good.
Tim Scott says
I’m thinkin’ that the county hasn’t been a real big buyer in the bomber market.
B. Gritz says
Hey Tim, Jason may be onto something here. What if Kern County attacks us? It would help us defend ourselves if we had our own $2 billion dollar aircraft don’t you think?
Super Scooper says
“Osby said then that the department has two more Sikorsky helicopters on order and scheduled for delivery next year, but the department needs more aircraft that can be flown at night.”
Perhaps California should purchase a couple of Super Scoopers for future needs. That would be a worthwhile investment of taxpayer money. Damage estimates from the two fires in California are estimated to be at between $9 and $13 billion.
Tom says
We were scheduled to buy a fleet of Super Scoopers 2 planes two years ago, but it was voted out by the board of supervisors. They feel leasing was cheaper. We could have leased them out to help cover the cost to other states and counties.