New Firehawks for County of Los Angeles Fire Department
On 29 October 2025, the County of Los Angeles Fire Department announced the procurement of two new Sikorsky S-70i Firehawks to replace its oldest models: N160LA/16 and N190LA/19.
The Firehawk features an external belly-mounted water tank with a capacity of 3,785 liters, which can be filled via a retractable snorkel. Inside, the helicopter can be reconfigured for rescue or emergency medical missions. All new aircraft will be equipped with night vision goggles for safe flight operations after dark.
In addition to the new Firehawks, the Fire Department ordered a Bell 412EPX in November 2024, which is expected to be delivered in spring 2026.
Firefighting aircraft and helicopters are well known in California. Besides Cal Fire, several counties operate their own aerial firefighting equipment. Sikorsky Firehawks are used by Cal Fire (sixteen new S-70i), the County of Los Angeles Fire Department (five new S-70s), Kern County Fire Department (two converted ex-U.S. Army UH-60L Black Hawks), Orange County Fire Authority (two new S-70s), San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (one S-70), Santa Barbara County Fire Department (one S-70), and Ventura County Fire Department (two ex-U.S. Army HH-60L Black Hawks converted to Firehawks).
The County of Los Angeles Fire Department received its first helicopter in 1962 - a Bell 47G-3 equipped with a 375-liter tank. Two more Bell 47J helicopters soon joined the fleet. The department’s first hangar was built at Van Nuys Airport in 1970.
In 1967, the first turbine-powered helicopters were added: a Bell 206A JetRanger, followed by two Bell 205A-1s. The Bell 205 could carry 1,350 liters of water and was also used for medical evacuation and rescue missions. The first newly built Firehawk entered service in 2001.
Current CoLAFD Fleet
Firefighting and Multi-Mission Helicopters:
- Bell 412: N17LA/17 (c/n 36044), N18LA/18 (c/n 36043)
- Bell 412EP: N120LA/12 (c/n 36455)
- S-70A Firehawk: N15LA/15 (c/n 702846), N160LA/16 (c/n 702453), N190LA/19 (c/n 702479)
- S-70i Firehawk: N821LA/21 (c/n 704023), N822LA/22 (c/n 704024)
Credit photo: Lukas Hollnsteiner (Scramble Archive)