NewsCalifornia News

Actions

Southern California gets 2 large firefighting helicopters

Each can carry 3,000 gallons of water
fire
Posted
and last updated

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. (AP) — Southern California fire agencies are getting two large-scale helicopters that can each carry up to 3,000 gallons of water or retardant to try to limit the spread of wildfires, and just as hot dry weather is setting in.

Fire agencies in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties say they are entering a partnership starting Tuesday that will help deploy critical air resources quickly to wildfires.

The program includes two Boeing Chinook helitankers that will be able to drop retardant at night, something the agencies said they haven't done before. The tri-county effort will be in place for up to six months and is funded by $18 million from Southern California Edison.

It comes as much of the region is bracing for an early season heat wave.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Sunday

05/18/2025

Sunny

82° / 57°

0%

Monday

05/19/2025

Sunny

89° / 62°

0%

Tuesday

05/20/2025

Sunny

91° / 62°

0%

Wednesday

05/21/2025

Sunny

96° / 65°

0%

Thursday

05/22/2025

Mostly Sunny

96° / 62°

0%

Friday

05/23/2025

Partly Cloudy

89° / 60°

0%

Saturday

05/24/2025

Sunny

87° / 60°

0%

Sunday

05/25/2025

Sunny

88° / 62°

0%