Orange County Firefighters Announce New Helicopter On The Way

IRVINE, CA — The Orange County Fire Authority Thursday announced it had approved the acquisition of two new firefighting helicopters.

The new Sikorsky S70 Firehawk helicopters were approved by the authority's board a week ago. The new helicopters replace the authority's 1966 UH-1H "Super Hueys" that had become too expensive to maintenance.

The new aircraft is the same as used in departments in Santa Barbara, Ventura County, Los Angeles County, San Diego and the state.

The authority also has two Bell 412EP helicopters, so the Firehawks will up the department's firefighters from the air to four vehicles.

The new helicopters can carry 1,000 gallons of water, a substantial increase from the Bell helicopters, which can hold 350 gallons.

The new helicopters are due to be delivered in the fall of next year.