The county Board of Supervisors this week unanimously approved the purchase of a $38 million Sikorsky S-70 Firehawk helicopter from San Diego Gas & Electric for night flying.

The decision comes as California and the county enter peak wildfire season, and day-or-night wildfire fighting capabilities remain vital for a regional response. However, the agreement will only bring the helicopter under the county’s control next fall. Before the arrival of the new helicopter, Cal Fire will station a reserve Firehawk in the county in the spring.

The helicopter costs $32 million, and the county will pay an additional $6 million to get it upgraded to Cal Fire operational standards, a county spokesperson said.

“Every minute matters when wildfire strikes,” Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer said. “This new helicopter provides San Diego County Fire with night-flying firefighting capacity — protecting families while they sleep, saving lives, and preventing small fires from becoming disasters.”

Cal Fire will operate and maintain the Firehawk. It nearly triples the region’s helicopter water-drop capacity and ensures dedicated night-flying capability in the region.

Lawson-Remer said the initial attack at night can be critical to stopping fires before they expand into major disasters, as strong winds and dry conditions can cause small blazes to spread out of control before sunrise.

The Firehawk can carry 1,000 gallons of water per drop and has a longer flight time than current helicopters owned by the county.

“I don’t want to jinx it, but I truly believe these investments have made a difference,” Supervisor Jim Desmond said. “We haven’t seen a major wildfire in our region in recent years, and that’s not by luck — it’s because we’ve taken fire safety seriously and acted decisively.”

The county will get the chopper up to Cal Fire specifications, the same as those used in Los Angeles County, Orange County and the city of San Diego. The region uses 12 aerial firefighting vehicles. The existing county firefighting helicopter last year made more than 1,400 water drops and 159 rescues.

“This aircraft represents a major leap forward in our ability to protect San Diego County,” Cal Fire San Diego Unit Chief Tony Mecham said. “The Firehawk’s capacity and endurance will allow us to respond faster, operate safely at night, and help contain wildfires before they threaten homes and communities.”

Originally Published: October 22, 2025 at 2:27 PM PDT