PG&E provides firefighting support to Marin County
The fire department of Marin County, California, will use a helicopter from energy provider Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) for aerial firefighting
The helicopter, a Black Hawk UH-60, will be available via mutual aid request for dispatch by Marin County Fire Department (MCFD) during the upcoming 2023 wildfire season.
The arrangement will run from 1 July to 31 October. The helicopter will be coordinated from MCFD’s Emergency Command Center, while PG&E’s contractor, PJ Helicopters, will manage the aircraft’s operations and upkeep.
The helicopter will be equipped with an internal water tank for initial attack firefighting operations, and will be stationed in the North Bay – but will also be available for use in other areas within PG&E high fire risk areas.
“The Marin County Fire Department is dedicated to safeguarding our community from the ever-growing wildfire threat,” said Marin County Fire Chief Jason Weber. “This partnership with PG&E marks a significant milestone in our ability to respond quickly and efficiently to wildfires. Together, we stand ready to confront this shared challenge and protect our residents and landscapes.”
US aviation operator Trans Aero recently acquired a UH-60A+ Black Hawk firefighting helicopter from Black Widow Helicopters.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at the Voyageur Group. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.