Aviation Program
The largest aerial firefighting fleet in the world
CAL FIRE’s world-renowned aviation program responds to thousands of wildland fires across California annually. The operational fleet features Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules and Grumman S-2T airtankers, Bell UH-1H Super Huey and Sikorsky S-70i FIREHAWK helicopters, and North American OV-10A (including one D-model) Bronco Air Tactical aircraft. These assets, along with highly skilled crew members, pilots, and support staff, are strategically positioned at one airtanker base, 13 air attack bases, 10 CAL FIRE helitack bases, and one joint CAL FIRE/San Diego County Sheriff helitack base. This distribution allows aircraft to reach even the most remote State Responsibility Area (SRA) fires within approximately 20 minutes, supporting the goal of containing 95% of all fires to 10 acres or less. With nearly 70 fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, CAL FIRE operates the largest aerial firefighting fleet in the world.