Leased helicopter will be used by Colorado Firefighting Air Corps
Sikorsky FIREHAWK helicopter (Lockheed Martin photo)
Wildland Firefighter Staff
DENVER, Colorado – Summit Daily reports that a bipartisan bill focused on wildfire relief, mitigation and prevention includes funding to lease a Sikorsky FIREHAWK® helicopter.
The helicopter is a converted Sikorsky Blackhawk helicopter by United Rotorcraft and costs approximately $24 million.
The helicopter would not be owned by the state but Colorado would opt to lease it when needed.
Under the lease, it would be controlled by the Colorado Firefighting Air Corps.
The FIREHAWK® has a tank mounted to the bottom that can carry up to 1,000 gallons of water, approximately three times the capacity of the typical bucket carried by other helicopters, and can be filled in 45 seconds.
The helicopter can also carry about a dozen firefighters with gear.
