Coulson Aviation has extended its year-round fire support contracts for a fifth year. The contracts call for Coulson aircraft to provide 24/7/365 Wildfire Quick Reaction Force (QRF) support to Southern California’s Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura Counties. The new contract calls for the commitment to be increased from two to three Boeing CH-47s and a Sikorsky S-76 (used for intelligence and reconnaissance) along with flight and maintenance crews.
“Coulson Aviation is pleased to be part of this game-changing and successful force for California in response to the state’s year-round needs,” said Wayne Coulson, CEO of Coulson Aviation. “Our aircraft are on contract in the LA Basin, day and night, providing additional air support to the brave men and women firefighters protecting Southern California.”
“Our goal to keep all new wildfires to 10 acres or less 95% of the time is not possible without the most state-of-the-art fleet of firefighting aircraft in the world,” added Orange County Fire Authority Chief Brian Fennessy. “That is exactly what the QRF is, and its year-round availability is a significant step in fighting what has become a year-round season of potentially deadly and destructive wildfires in Southern California and beyond.”
While contracted to the county fire departments, the aircraft will also be available to support partner fire departments within gas and water utility company Southern California Edison’s 50,000-square-mile service area.
