Local News - Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has stationed one of its fire-fighting helicopters at the Sycuan Tribal Fire Department

Sycuan fire department to manage firefighting helicopter

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 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 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 mechanical 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.