Cal Fire to upgrade Ramona base for new C-130H firefighting air tankers

Gov Gavin Newsom with a new C- H air tanker Photo courtesy of the governor s office A considerable Cal Fire construction project at the Ramona Air Attack Base to accommodate a new air tanker will begin next week According to a news release issued Sunday the agency stated the project is a crucial step in preparing the base to accommodate one of Cal Fire s new C- H air tankers dramatically enhancing the agency s wildfire- response capabilities in Southern California The project was scheduled to begin Aug Project workers will demolish and reconstruct the base s aging tarmac and fire-retardant reloading bays to improve efficiency and backing the C- H s increased size and operational requirements Nearly years old the Ramona Air Attack Base presently holds three aircraft one air attack platform and two air tankers according to Cal Fire The agency estimated the project would take eight to months to complete In turn the Ramona plant will be out of operation necessitating adjustments to firefighting air operations according to the announcement To ensure uninterrupted air response administrators announced Cal Fire will Use Hemet-Ryan Air Attack Base in Riverside County as the nearest reloading facility Activate a temporary reload base at Brown Field Municipal Airport in San Diego during extended wildland fires or at Cal Fire leadership s discretion Add initial attack aircraft dispatch from two to four air tankers as a way to offset more flight times during the base project Have the fully loaded and available air tankers at Ramona Air Attack Base for a fast aerial response in San Diego County According to Cal Fire San Diego County remains well-resourced with up to seven helicopters available through interagency agreements for initial response to wildfires Aircraft will be available to fight regional or statewide wildfires following improvements to Ramona base and the C- H being operational Cal Fire revealed The U S Coast Guard transferred the C- H aircraft to Cal Fire via the National Defense Authorization Act administrators announced The C- Hs went into operation last August at McClellan Airtanker Base Ramona will be the next permanent home for this advanced firefighting aircraft Cal Fire administrators reported