By: Amy Meier

Following the recent prediction of 2013 having the worst fire season in the last 100 years, the Board of Supervisors approved our Department’s continued lease of an Erickson Air Crane rotary wing Helitanker at their meeting on July 16. Our Department has leased a Helitanker from Erickson since 2008, and the company has maintained a proven performance record for each of the past five years. The Helitanker is called in for use during the annual brush fire season, since the unpredictable weather conditions during this time dictate the need for increased water-dropping capability. Our existing helicopter fleet is designed to handle most wildland fires that occur during the rest of the year when weather conditions are not as severe.

The Erickson Helitanker features a 2,000-gallon self-filling fixed tank, a water cannon and a patented sea snorkel pump system that is capable of filling from bodies of water that are only a minimum of 18-feet deep. These unique features enable the Helitanker to hydraulically draft water and immediately return to the fire. The lease was approved for an initial term of three years, with the option for two one-year extensions.