As part of a wide-ranging boost to its capabilities, California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced an additional US$72m in funding for extra aircraft to be added to the CAL FIRE fleet on short-term contracts ahead of what is expected to be a more demanding than usual wildfire season. The funding will see 24 aircraft, including 19 helicopters, bolstering CAL FIRE’s own fleet of 60 aircraft (including 12 S-70i Firehawks and 12 UH-1Hs) on contracts ranging between 90 and 120 days.
Commenting on the upgrades to the state’s system, Gov. Newsom explained: “In just five years, California’s wildfire response has seen a tech revolution. We’re enlisting cutting-edge technology in our efforts to fight wildfires, exploring how innovations like artificial intelligence can help us identify threats quicker and deploy resources smarter. And with the world’s largest aerial firefighting force and more firefighters on the ground than ever before, we’re keeping more Californians safer from wildfire.”
