Photo shows a HeloPod with custom markings that the Cal Fire/County Fire Department is getting in part with a $40,000 donation from PG&E. Submitted photo
The Cal Fire/County Fire Department is getting a big boost from a utility company’s donation that will aid in water drops on wildfires.
County Supervisors approved acceptance of a $40,000 donation from Pacific Gas & Electric via the Fire Safe Council, to buy a HeloPod, a portable water storage container that holds water that can be taken up by helicopters for dropping onto wildfire hot spots.
“HeloPod,” reads a report from County Fire Chief John Owens, “is a patented, prefabricated dip source/dip tank design fully re-locatable and can be deployed anywhere within San Luis Obispo County where there is an operational need.
“It is filled with water and can be supplied from either a static water source [hydrant] or water tender.”
Having a ready pool of water close to a fire will make things easier for firefighting helicopters. “It provides significant flexibility and value to helicopters during wildland fire incidents in areas without open water sources,” Chief Owens said, “allowing responding helicopters to dip into the tank of water when conducting aerial firefighting.”
County Fire and the County’s Purchasing Department worked together on a non-competitive bid from the manufacturer, Pump Pod U.S.A. to order the Helopod.
PG&E’s donation didn’t cover the entire cost. Chief Owen said the overall cost is $72,000 and the remaining $32,000 is coming out of the County Fire Department’s budget.
The HeloPod looks a lot like a roll-off dumpster that one might rent from the garbage company for use on a construction site, or perhaps a major landscaping job. It would be transported via a flatbed truck to a staging site near a wildfire where it can be filled by a water tanker truck or if one is available, a fire hydrant or water storage tank.
County building codes require such water storage tanks for rural properties of a certain size or distance from fire hydrants or other water sources like a pond or a lake.
And while water tanks are designed to be tapped by fire engines, they are not much good for loading helicopters.
With this piece of equipment, instead of having to fly to the nearest lake or pond to refill its bucket, a helicopter could just fly to the HeloPod to get another load of water, potentially cutting flying time significantly, and increasing the number of water drops that can be made before having to return to the airport to refuel the helicopter.
