Test with Chinook Helps Upgrade California Helicopter Fill Site

Malibu site can now hold more water

 

(69 BRAVO Helistop)

 

MALIBU, Calif. (AP) — A water fill-up station in the mountains above Malibu is increasing capacity to handle larger firefighting helicopters that are being contracted to bolster Southern California fleets.

The upgrade of the site called 69 Bravo follows a November test of a big CH-47 Chinook, a type of helitanker that can carry 3,000 gallons (11,356 liters) of water, significantly more than common types of water-dropping helicopters.

The site in the Santa Monica Mountains has four self-replenishing 6,000-gallon (22,712-liter) rubber-vinyl water containers, known as “pumpkins,” that are being replaced with 8,000-gallon (30,282-liter) metal containers, the city of Malibu said in a press release.

See also  Fire Devastates Oregon’s Columbia Gorge

“With the threat of the next big wildfire always looming over us in Malibu, it is heartening to see the impressive capabilities of Bravo 69 and the Chinook helitankers in place, close by and ready to respond to fires in our community,” said Mayor Paul Grisanti.

The twin-rotor CH-47 helitankers are adapted from heavy-lift helicopters developed for the U.S. Army.

Malibu’s most recent inferno was the November 2018 Woolsey Fire, which destroyed more than 1,600 structures, killed three people and forced thousands to flee as it raged through Ventura and Los Angeles counties to the sea.

All contents © copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

See also  Arizona Feels Brunt of Wildfire Activity Across the U.S. West

Topics

Newslettter

Subscribe to Our Monthly Newsletter

Stay in the loop with our wildland newsletter.

Malibu site can now hold more water     MALIBU, Calif. (AP) — A water fill-up station in the mountains above Malibu is increasing capacity to handle larger firefighting helicopters that are being contracted to bolster Southern California fleets. The upgrade of the site called 69 Bravo follows a November test of a big CH-47 […]

Get The Wildland Firefighter Newsletter

Related Articles

Wildfires Burn Thousands of Acres on Tribal Lands in ND

Wildfires Burn Thousands of Acres on Tribal Lands in ND

By JACK DURA Associated Press BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Crews have been fighting at least 16 wildfires throughout North Dakota in the last several days, including several large fires still burning Tuesday across wooded areas and grasslands on the Turtle Mountain...

NC Fire Grows to 1,300 Acres; Burn Ban Implemented

NC Fire Grows to 1,300 Acres; Burn Ban Implemented

Martha Quillin - The Herald (Rock Hill, S.C.) (TNS) A wildfire in Brunswick County that started Friday, May 2, is the largest of dozens of fires crews are working to contain across North Carolina. Weekend rains helped with some of the fires, but much of the state...

NJ Teen Is Second Suspect Arrested in Massive Ocean County Wildfire

NJ Teen Is Second Suspect Arrested in Massive Ocean County Wildfire

Muri Assunção - New York Daily News A New Jersey teenager has been arrested in connection with a massive wildfire that has burned more than 15,000 acres in Ocean County, prosecutors announced Friday. The 17-year-old male juvenile, who hasn’t been named because of his...