Refurbished Ramona Cal Fire Air Base Reopens After Major Upgrades

RAMONA, CA — A newly modernized Cal Fire air attack base in Ramona is back in service after a yearlong construction project aimed at strengthening wildfire response across San Diego County and California.

Officials celebrated the reopening Monday of the Ramona Air Attack Base, which now includes a reconstructed tarmac and new fire retardant reloading bays. The upgrades were designed to support larger firefighting aircraft.

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The reconstructed base is now home to a permanently assigned C-130 Hercules air tanker that can respond to fires statewide. The facility also houses a Sikorsky S-70 Cal Fire Hawk helicopter and supports Cal Fire's San Diego County aerial firefighting fleet.

"The Ramona Air Attack Base has long served as a cornerstone of aerial firefighting in San Diego County," Unit Fire Chief Tony Mecham said in a statement. "With these upgrades now complete, the base is fully operational and positioned as a critical hub in Cal Fire's expanding aviation program."

Construction began in August 2025. Cal Fire officials said the upgrades improve wildfire response across the county and state.