Every minute matters when a wildfire strikes — especially after dark. 

This week, the County Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of a night-flying Firehawk helicopter, expanding our region’s around-the-clock firefighting power and giving firefighters a critical new tool to protect families, homes, and communities. 

Wildfire season is now year-round — and our response needs to be too.

The Firehawk strengthens San Diego’s regional network — ensuring the County has its own dedicated 24-hour aerial firefighting capability so that when flames break out after dark, firefighters can act immediately.

What Makes the Firehawk Different

• Night-flying operations: Enables aerial firefighting after dark — when many fires spread fastest.
• Triple the water capacity: Drops 1,000 gallons at a time, nearly three times more than our current aircraft.
• Extended reach and speed: Flies longer, faster missions to support firefighters on the ground.
• Year-round readiness: Operated and maintained by CAL FIRE, with a reserve Firehawk stationed in San Diego County as early as this spri

Together, these upgrades mean faster response times, stronger coordination, and greater protection for rural, tribal, and high-risk communities.

You Can Help the Helicopter

A new helicopter isn’t the only upgrade this week.

Today, the County is also rolling out a major update to our emergency app — now called AlertSanDiego — giving residents real-time alerts, evacuation maps, and wildfire camera access right on their phones.

If you already have the old SDEmergency app, just open the app and install the update when prompted. If you’re new to it, you can download AlertSanDiego now in the App Store or Google Play. 

Or visit AlertSanDiego.org to:

• Sign up for emergency alerts and updates
• View live wildfire and evacuation maps
• Create a disaster plan for your household

New tools in the air — and new tools in your hand — are helping keep San Diego safe. Together, we can stay ready, day and night.