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CAL FIRE Aviation Program

@calfireairops

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Official account for CAL FIRE Aviation Program

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Up close with @calfire at the 2026 @capitalairshow @calfireneu Grass Valley OV10 #airattack S2T #airtanker @calfirelnu Boggs Mountain Helitack #s70ifirehawk #helicopter #aerialfirefighting safetyfirst by @calfireairops

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5 days ago

You loved taking a trip back in time with us last week, so we’re bringing you a few more throwback photos from CAL FIRE’s past. These images from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s capture the people, the apparatus and the mission through the decades.

There’s something special about looking back at firefighting history and seeing how the fire service has evolved over the years. Curious about what came before? Let us know in the comments if you’d like to see more photos from the ’50s and ’60s, too! taken in San Diego County by @calfireairops

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7 days ago

Today at AEU's McClellan Airtanker Base, an Aerial Supervision Module (ASM), along with three airtankers, launched for the Bull Fire in Nevada.

So, what is an ASM? The Aerial Supervision Module serves like a command post in the sky. The aerial supervision crew coordinates the aircraft working over the fire, directing airtankers where and when to make their drops and coordinating with helicopters and other aircraft operating in the area. It’s a critical piece of the aerial firefighting operation, helping multiple aircraft work together safely and effectively while supporting firefighters on the ground.

McClellan Airtanker Base plays an important role in California’s firefighting system, providing a strategic launch point for aerial firefighting resources responding across California and beyond through mutual aid.

Every minute counts on a fire, and the ASM helps make sure all those aircraft are working together where they’re needed most. by @calfireairops

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14 days ago

Last week, CAL FIRE/San Diego County Fire was honored to participate in the Miramar Air Show alongside our community partners. CAL FIRE has the largest aerial firefighting fleet in the world, and the show gave us a great opportunity to share a closer look at the people, aircraft, and resources that help protect communities across California.

This year was especially exciting as we had the opportunity to showcase two additional aircraft recently added to Ramona Air Attack Base, the C-130H Hercules airtanker and the CAL FIRE HAWK, a Sikorsky S-70i. It was a privilege to bring these aircraft to the show alongside our firefighters, pilots, mechanics, Community Risk Reduction staff, and ground apparatus.

We are grateful for the opportunity to connect with the community and offer a firsthand look at the people, aircraft, and ground resources that support CAL FIRE’s mission to protect California! taken in Miramar USMC Air Base by @calfireairops

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15 days ago

From the archives. 🚁✈️

A look back at airtanker and helicopter drops over the years.

From the sky to the fireline, our aviation resources provide critical support to firefighters on the ground when it matters most. by @calfireairops

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17 days ago

#englishwheel

For every flight hour, every water drop, every retardant line, there are hours of work on the aircraft that you may never see. Some of the tools are highly specialized, like this English Wheel. @calfire #aviation #aircraft #c130 #aerialfirefighting human powered machine by @calfireairops

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a month ago

Fire Captain Robert Tooker (now retired), whose son is a CAL FIRE Helitack Captain, was sent to New York City in 2001 as a member of California Task Force 3. It’s often difficult to capture the absence of something in photos, but the senior FC Tooker’s images accomplish this while also conveying the scale of the massive task at hand and the diminutive scale of the human figure working to rescue survivors.

In reflecting on his experience, Tooker, who was also part of a team sent to the Oklahoma City Bombing six years earlier, says he’s proud to have been able to do his job. With the kind of grit that comes from experience, he says, “It’s important to always train like it’s the real thing and to never do anything half-ass.”

Remembering the sacrifices and honoring the resilience 25 years later, we also give a nod to the thousands, like Retired Fire Captain Robert Tooker, who answered the call in-service to others. #usar #training #safetyfirst @calfire @calfire_czu @calfiretgu_tcfd #fireservice #september11 by @calfireairops

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a month ago

@calfire_aeu McClellan Air Tanker Base (MATB) supporting the #lucasfire late in the day. After being released from the fire, aircraft returning to MATB are marshaled in, parked and readied for the next day. #aerialfirefighting #c130 #ov10 #safetyfirst @calfire @calfiremeu @calfirelnu by @calfireairops

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a month ago

@calfire #aviation #trivianight

What is it and what is it used for?

The show me version. #C130 #ov10 #s70i by @calfireairops

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a month ago

Columbia, California, is home to an airport that every CAL FIRE tanker pilot will visit at some point during their training.

With tall trees, rising terrain, and a razor-thin margin for error, it’s one of the more challenging airports for aerial firefighting aircraft to navigate.

This week’s episode follows a CAL FIRE tanker trainee as he trains at Columbia Air Attack Base, giving you a look at what it takes to operate these aircraft in some of the most challenging terrain.

Watch Airborne Firefighters episode 9 now on YouTube.

#airtanker #waterbomber #aerialfirefighting #fireaviation #avgeek taken in Sonora, California by @calfireairops

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2 months ago

Tanker action at McClellan Airtanker Base!

Check out some of the airtankers that have been launching from AEU’s McClellan Airtanker Base (MATB) to support firefighting efforts across California and beyond, providing critical aerial support to firefighters on the ground.

Did you know that MATB is the largest firefighting airtanker base in the world, and supports wildland fires nationwide?

From loading retardant to heading out on the next mission, these aircraft play an important role in firefighting efforts throughout fire season. by @calfireairops

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2 months ago

Aerial firefighting didn’t begin with a master blueprint. It started with curiosity and resourcefulness. @calfire didn’t solve those early puzzles alone. We were part of a broader group of aviators, mechanics, and thinkers who tested ideas on their way to building the industry of aerial firefighting.

Today, on National Aviation Day, we mark the achievements in aviation, and acknowledge those who have made aviation their life’s work. With deep respect, we remember the sacrifices experienced within our own program and across the wider aviation community throughout this shared history. To all the #helitack crew members, #airtanker and #helicopter aerial firefighting #pilots, aviation maintenance crews, engineers, and support teams who dedicate their lives to aerial firefighting, thank you for carrying the spirit of aviation forward. #nationalaviationday safetyfirst by @calfireairops

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2 months ago