Did you know that CAL FIRE/San Diego County Fire has a unique cooperative aerial rescue program? Through this program, the San Diego Sheriff’s Department provides pilots and the aircraft and CAL FIRE San Diego provides the firefighting and paramedic rescue crew, creating a critical service for one of the busiest counties in California for helicopter rescues. This aerial paramedic rescue program allows for rescues in remote locations, responds quickly to emergencies, and provides the same level o

What’s a helitack crew? 🚁 A helitack crew is a team of highly trained firefighters and their pilot who are transported by helicopter to provide rapid initial attack and assist with rescues—particularly in areas that are remote, rugged, or inaccessible by vehicle. Their aerial deployment gets them to the incident within minutes and begin suppression efforts right away. On the ground, they use hand tools, chainsaws, and other equipment to stop a fire’s spread, while the helicopter supports their