Monrovia Scouts Tour Cal Fire Prado Helitack Base

Prado Helitack Base-San Bernardino Unit located at the Prado Conservation Camp in Chino offered Monrovia Cub Scout Pack 66 and Monrovia Troop 66 an experience they will not soon forget. The Scouts were treated to an unexpected demonstration from the Helitack crew.

The scouts were greeted by Fire Captains Jason Camillieri, and Arnold Ramirez. The Captains hosted a safety briefing and explained to the scouts what they will be seeing. While the scouts were being briefed, in the background the UH-1H Super Huey helicopter was being loaded with fire crew, safety checks being performed, gear being stowed and the crew dawning their turnout gear. All the while the rotors were slowly spinning and gaining momentum to the all familiar whine of the UH-1H Super Huey.

Having an opportunity such as this opens up doors and minds for the scouts to see careers that can effect change in the lives of others. Scouts are about being of service, and learning from CAL FIRE about how they operate and prepare for firefighting in some of the more treacherous terrains in the United States, is awe inspiring.

The Cal Fire crew of Copter 305 demonstrated five live water drop techniques. The crew showed the scouts how water was pumped from the water truck called “water loading” and how they would siphon water from a lake, reservoir or pool. The scouts watched in earnest as the crew practiced off-boarding while hovering, this enables the crews to disembark quickly with their gear when the chopper is not able to land. The Scouts were able to tour the wildland fire truck and the UH-01 Huey that is used for getting the fire crew to the fire.

Helitack Crew allowed the scouts to try on their gear; many of the scouts had to be balanced as the simple pack they used weighed in at 50 pounds, more than some of our scouts. After the tour of the water truck and its operations the scouts moved to the UH-1H Super Huey from the Vietnam era, which has been refurbished for firefighting and water dropping. They were able to all climb inside and feel what it’s like to be a fire fighter sitting in the back ready to jump out.

Thank you to the Crew of Prado Helitack Crew 305 for taking the time to answer all our scouts’ questions and allowing them to see another side to wildland firefighting. A huge Thank You to the men who made this day possible for us, Fire Pilot Wayne Krager, Fire Captain Jason Camillieri, Fire Captain Arnold Ramirez, Fire Apparatus Engineer Ethan Klapp, Fire Fighter Joseph Cauzza, Fire Fighter Adam Elite, Fire Fighter Caleb Long, Fire Fighter Josh Moreno, Firefighter Chris Olsen, and Firefighter Saul Pinon.

Monrovia Pack and Troop 66 pride themselves on new experiences and adventures. To learn more about us please look for our page on Facebook @MonroviaTroop66 and @MonroviaPack66 or email us at monroviatroop66@gmail.com