Southern Calif. gets 2 large firefighting helicopters

摘要

Southern California fire agencies are getting two large-scale helicopters that can each carry up to 3,000 gallons of water or retardant to try to limit the spread of wildfires - and just as hot, dry weather is setting in. Fire agencies in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties, which are home to a combined 14 million people, said they are entering a partnership starting today that will help deploy critical air resources quickly to wildfires, including the two large-scale Boeing Chinook helitankers known as CH-47s, which can carry up to 1,000 gallons; a coordinating helicopter; and a mobile retardant base. However, the tankers were pressed into service early yesterday to handle a fire in Ventura County. By evening, firefighters were making good progress on stopping the blaze from spreading and no buildings had burned, fire officials said.