Air Operations
Protecting Orange County from Above
OCFD enters its first helicopter service contract with Evergreen Helicopters, Inc. The arrangement includes pilots, maintenance technicians, and a 900-gallon fuel truck and driver. That same year, the department responds to its first incident on June 22, 1994, marking the beginning of its air operations legacy.
The Evergreen contract ends, and the department puts Copter 341 into full service. Around this time, OCFD transitions to the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) and relocates air operations to Fullerton Airport, leasing a 10,000-square-foot hangar and hiring its first in-house helicopter maintenance staff.
OCFA begins operating its first refurbished Super Huey, designated Copter 41, followed by Copter 241 in 1997. The agency’s early fleet also included fuel tenders Helitender 41 and Helitender 241, both obtained through the FEPP program.
OCFA purchases its first rescue hoist, beginning development of an all-risk helicopter rescue capability.
Night Vision Goggle technology is introduced, enabling safe nighttime operations and marking a major leap forward in aerial firefighting.
OCFA adds two new Bell 412EP twin-engine helicopters, branded as Copter 1 and Copter 2, supplementing the two existing Super Hueys (renamed Copters 3 and 4).
Air Operations moves into a state-of-the-art 22,000-square-foot hangar at Fullerton Airport, featuring three bays, a training room, and modern amenities.
Each aircraft becomes staffed 24 hours a day with a Pilot, Crew Chief, and Helicopter Paramedic Rescuer, establishing true around-the-clock, all-risk response capability.
OCFA Fire Chief Brian Fennessy creates the Fire Integrated Real-Time Intelligence System (FIRIS) in partnership with General Atomics, Courtney Aviation, UCSD, LAFD, Cal OES, and others. FIRIS is immediately successful, giving ground crews and the public real-time intelligence, growth models, and reconnaissance data on wildfires and other major disasters.
OCFA Fire Chief Brian Fennessy establishes a public/private partnership with Southern California Edison, LACoFD, and VCFD, creating the Quick Reaction Force (QRF), which ultimately adds three CH-47 Helitankers and a Sikorsky 76 command and control aircraft to the fleet of the three fire agencies.
The OCFA Board of Directors approves the purchase of two Sikorsky S70 FIREHAWK helicopters, replacing the aging 1966 UH-1H “Super Hueys” that were grounded in 2020.
The FIREHAWKS join OCFA’s two Bell 412EP helicopters, restoring a four-aircraft fleet to the OCFA for the first time in four years.