Los Angeles County – Wildfire Today

One of the S-70A Firehawk helicopters operated by the Los Angeles County Fire Department suffered a rotor strike last week while the personnel were conducting training. Video posted on social media (see below) recorded the event. As Helicopter 16 (N160LA) appeared to be settling down to a landing, a main rotor blade struck a large rock. You can hear the impact and the sound of the helicopter was then very different, changing to a whop-whop-whop that reminded me of the sound of a Huey.

After the impact the ship immediately begin lifting and flew off out of sight. It was later photographed in a field where personnel on a ladder were inspecting one of the main rotor blades.

The knowledgeable person I talked to did not want to have their name disclosed since they were not authorized to discuss the incident in detail.

The helicopter has been repaired and is back in service. The incident occurred around July 30.

Warning: the video below that shows the rotor strike has coarse language.

File photo of Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopter 16 (N160LA with the open door) at Barton Heliport in Pacoima, California January 26, 2020. Photo by Bill Gabbert.

The two brand new S-70i Firehawks that arrived at the Barton Heliport in Pacoima August 4 are basically ready to fight fire. One is 100 percent ready and the other is undergoing some minor changes to the seats. With this boost to the fleet the LACoFD now has 10 helicopters — 5 Firehawks and 5 Bell 412 ships.

The article was edited August 8, 2020 to show that the helicopter involved in the mishap was an S-70A rather than an S-70i.

California Firehawk H-60 Los Angeles County mishap

LACoFD has two new Firehawks

Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopters 21 and 22 arrive at Barton Heliport in Pacoima, California. Photo by @ShorealoneFilms via @MichaelDubron.

With their arrival today at the Barton Heliport in Pacoima, the Los Angeles County Fire Department has two new Firehawk helicopters fully equipped and ready to go. Both of the ships, Helicopters 21 and 22, were converted by Colorado company United Rotorcraft into firefighting machines, with extended landing gear, 1,000 gallon firefighting tanks, and retractable snorkel systems. H-21 was in California last winter, went back to Colorado to finish the conversion, then came back with it’s sister ship, H-22, today August 4.

Now the LACoFD has 10 helicopters, 5 Firehawks and five Bell 412 ships.

The Department announced in July of last year that they were going to buy two more Firehawks.

Last year we wrote about 14 things to know about Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Operations.

Firehawk Sikorsky S70I Los Angeles County Fire Department — Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Sikorsky S70I Firehawk, Helicopter 21, being tested Nov. 16, 2019 in Colorado. Photo by Erick Lama for United Rotorcraft.

HAI_2020_Arrivals_HAI — One of Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Firehawks, Helicopter 21, arriving at HAI 2020 in Anaheim, CA January 24, 2020.

HAI HELI-EXPO 2020 Anaheim helicopter — At HAI Anaheim, January 28, 2020, Sikorsky honored three fire departments whose organizations are operating Firehawks; San Diego Fire Rescue, Los Angeles County, and CAL FIRE.

Sikorsky Firehawk H-21 — At HAI Anaheim, January 28, 2020, Sikorsky honored three fire departments whose organizations are operating Firehawks; San Diego Fire Rescue, Los Angeles County, and CAL FIRE. LACoFD’s new H-21 is in the background.

California Firehawk H-21 H-22 Los Angeles County United Rotorcraft

Photos of firefighting aircraft on the Elizabeth Fire in southern California

Elizabeth Fire helicopter — This is a new-to-them HH-60L Blackhawk operated by the Ventura County Fire Department.

Jay Widdows sent us these photos he shot June 10 on the Elizabeth Fire north of the city of Ventura in southern California. The fire burned 289 acres. Thanks Jay!