VIDEO: A new water tank to help fight fires from the air was unveiled in San Marcos Tuesday.
Helicopters with capabilities to drop water onto fires aerially are one of the most crucial firefighting tools. The New HeloPod can be filled with 5,000 gallons of water in under three minutes. Then, a helicopter can fill its tank through its “snorkel” while hovering above, in about one minute.
“Aerial assets are key in wildland firefighting, and having this is going to be key to the success here in San Diego County,” Jon Hegge, CalFire Division Chief said. The Vallecitos Water District, CalFire, San Marcos Fire Department and the City of San Marcos have been working together on this project for the last four years. “Finding water sources in San Diego, especially in areas that are developed like the City of San Marcos, can be challenging."