On the morning of Thursday, September 14, 2023, County of Los Angeles Fire Department (LACoFD) Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone hosted the annual contract aircraft media day at the Van Nuys Airport Air Tanker Base.
Chief Marrone was joined by David Brulotte, Delegate General for the Government of Québec; Cody Tubbs from Southern California Edison; and Wayne Coulson of the Coulson Group, to welcome back the SuperScoopers (Québec 1 and 2).
With the arrival of Québec 1 and 2, and access to the leased Coulson Group Chinook CH-47, known as Helitanker 55, the Department can drastically increase water-dropping capabilities and the ability to fight wildfires day and night.
For the past 30 years, the LACoFD has leased the pair of SuperScoopers which were officially became in service on Friday, September 1.
With ground and aerial resources available 24 hours a day, Chief Marrone assured residents that the LACoFD firefighters are doing all they can and will quickly mobilize to contain wildfires, both on the ground and in the air. Residents were also encouraged to be ready, by having daily situational awareness, paying attention to high fire danger days and weather conditions, and protecting their families and homes by developing a personalized Ready! Set! Go! Wildfire Action Plan.
For more information about Ready! Set! Go!, visit fire.lacounty.gov/rsg
