The County of Los Angeles recently entered into a contract with Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, for two S‑70i FIREHAWK helicopters.
The county will use the helicopters to enhance its wildfire suppression rescue, and emergency medical services capabilities. They are equipped with a 1,000-gallon water tank with a retractable snorkel that refills in under a minute, twin turbine engines that provide speeds up to 155 knots, night vision compatible flight controls, and multimission flexibility that allows for quick reconfiguration for hoist rescues, air medical transport, crew haul, and aerial reconnaissance.
“The FIREHAWK helicopter has been the cornerstone of our aerial firefighting capability for more than two decades,” County of Los Angeles Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said. “Adding two more proven platforms enhances our ability to respond to all types of emergency situations across the county and contain wildfires before they get out of control, even under the most challenging conditions.”…