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Sycuan Fire Department to Manage Firefighting Helicopter Bureau of Indian Affairs helicopter now stationed at Sycuan
By Adam Day El Cajon, CA (November 9, 2007) - The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation announced that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has stationed one of its fire-fighting helicopters at the Sycuan Tribal Fire Department. The helicopter will be available at Sycuan for a 30-day, non-consecutive period to augment the firefighting capabilities of the region. This additional 30-day period is funded by the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. “The Sycuan Fire Department is the only tribal fire department in the State of California where the BIA has stationed one of its helicopters to be manned by tribal personnel,” said Hank Murphy, Fire Chief of the Sycuan Fire Department. “Due to the need for continuous fire protection, this equipment will help us respond quickly to any new fires that may occur in the back country.” The BIA helicopter was delivered last Saturday to the Sycuan Fire Department Air and Wildland Division and was released by the Air and Wildland Division late Wednesday afternoon. The Type II medium helicopter is capable of carrying nine passengers, can travel at a maximum velocity of 203 Km/h or 109 knots, and can hold a payload of 11,200 pounds. It is fire certified and equipped with a 360-gallon fixed tank or belly tank that is capable of delivering water, foam or retardant. With a joint effort from the Sycuan Fire Department and Rogers Helicopters Inc., the equipment is provided with a pilot, a Bambi bucket, a mechanic with a service vehicle and a fuel tender with a driver. The BIA helicopter will be staffed and managed by the Sycuan Golden Eagles Flycrew, a specially trained 20-person unit of the Sycuan Fire Department Air and Wildland Division, managed by Division Chief Ray Ruiz, Sr. The temporary placement of the equipment is part of a long-term program planned by the Sycuan Fire Department’s Air and Wildland Division to secure an exclusive-use helicopter funded by the BIA for a 180-day period during each year’s fire season.
Sycuan Fire Department Division Chief Ray Ruiz Sr., Sycuan Lead Captain 63a Juan Mendez, meet in the field with a federally-contracted Call When Needed CWN helicopter and firefighting crew from Rogers Helicopters, Inc. The professional helicopter crew included Mark Fisher, pilot, Dan King, manager, and Lance, mechanic.
The type 2 medium Bell 212TH firefighting helicopter pictured standing by on the Sycuan Indian Reservation, is owned by Rogers Helicopters in Fresno, CA. The fire-fighting helicopter is equipped with a belly tank hold that 360 gallons via snorkel, and can be fitted with an optional bambie bucket capable of dropping 240 gallons per drop.
Sycuan Fire Department GOLDEN EAGLES FLYCREW 1 takes a picture with the CWN contract crew. The Sycuan Fire Department Flycrew 1 is staffed the CWN team as it repositioned to Sycuan heli-base, Sycuan Indian Reservation, as part of predicted Santa Ana fire support in San Diego County, and remained staffed and on call for the following 10 days.
The regular Sycuan Hotshots, many who are Flycrew certified, pose for a photograph beside the Bell 212TH firefighting chopper.
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