On Monday, July 10, 2023, the County of Los Angeles Fire Department (LACoFD) participated in a joint news conference with the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD), Coulson Aviation, and Southern California Edison (SCE) at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Irwindale.
The news conference featured a live demonstration to educate community members on wildfire preparedness and demonstrate the skills of the Quick Reaction Force (QRF).
This is the third year these fire agencies have come together to discuss the upcoming fire season and illustrate the Coulson CH-47 Chinook Helitankers fire suppression skills, as the industry’s largest effective water and fire retardant-dropping helitankers.
During the news conference, Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone stated that “In the past year, the LACoFD has dispatched and utilized Helitanker 55 on numerous wildfires within our jurisdiction, including the Route Fire in Castaic that burned 5,208 acres. The Quick Reaction Force resources were essential in minimizing the duration of the fire where temperatures peaked above 111 degrees for firefighters battling the blaze on the ground. This year, in anticipation of a hotter-than-normal summer with increased vegetation due to the rainfall, the QRF resources will again be a welcome addition to our world-renowned air operations fleet.”
The LACoFD, OCFA, and VCFD each manage and lease helitankers operated by Coulson Aviation. SCE has been a proud sponsor of the QRF since 2021.
With the year-round threat of wildfires, the LACoFD encourages community members to download the Ready! Set! Go! Wildfire Action Plan for safety tips and information that can protect their family and home.
