Nighttime firefighting helicopter returns to SLO County. How does it work?
North County residents can expect to see a new neighbor in the sky this summer after San Luis Obispo County contracted a firefighting helicopter for the upcoming peak fire season.
The wildfire response tool, the Helitanker 7PJ, might look familiar to Paso Robles because it’s the same chinook that supported local firefighting operations last year, a news release from SLO County Fire Department and Cal Fire said. Its home base will be the Paso Robles Air Attack Base.
What makes the helitanker unique is its nighttime firefighting capabilities which allows it to operate during hours when many other aircraft are unavailable.
Night-flying aircraft have increasingly become an important component of California’s wildfire suppression strategy, the release said, allowing firefighting operations to continue after sunset in cooler temperatures and higher humidity.
According to the news release, the aircraft can travel to speeds of up to 138 mph and carry up to 2,300 gallons of water per drop.
“7PJ is a welcome addition to the aerial response we have in the San Luis Obispo Unit and will also be utilized statewide as large incidents emerge,” battalion chief Cody Dunn said in the release.
Residents might see Helitanker 7PJ responding to initial incidents throughout SLO County and other areas of the state for larger fires. The aircraft will be staffed from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. daily.
