Officials celebrated the reopening Monday of the Ramona Air Attack Base, which now includes a reconstructed tarmac and new fire retardant reloading bays. The upgrades were designed to support larger firefighting aircraft.
The reconstructed base is now home to a permanently assigned C-130 Hercules air tanker that can respond to fires statewide. The facility also houses a Sikorsky S-70 Cal Fire Hawk helicopter and supports Cal Fire’s San Diego County aerial firefighting fleet.