California stations new C-130H airtanker and helitack base in San Diego County | The Locally Times
The state-owned firefighting fleet addition at Ramona Airport aims to shorten response times for high-capacity aerial fire suppression.
California has officially stationed its fourth C-130H Hercules airtanker and established a new 11th helitack base at the Ramona Airport in San Diego County as of June 4, 2026. These assets are part of an ongoing effort to expand the state’s civilian aerial firefighting fleet, which is the largest of its kind in the nation. The C-130H airtanker is capable of dropping up to 4,000 gallons of fire retardant on wildfires, providing increase in payload capacity for initial attack operations. The new helitack base at Ramona Airport will host Sikorsky S70i Fire Hawk helicopters, which are designed for rapid deployment of fire crews and aerial water drops in rugged terrain. ## Fleet Expansion and Ownership California became the first state in the nation to own, operate, and deploy its own fleet of C-130H airtankers in 2024. The state secured approval to acquire seven of these aircraft from the United States Coast Guard in 2018. Following federal legislation signed in late 2023, ownership of all seven aircraft transferred to the state, with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) managing the retrofitting process. The deployment of this fourth aircraft marks the completion of conversion work for more than half of the planned seven-tanker fleet. The records do not specify a timeline for when the remaining three C-130H airtankers will complete their conversion and enter active service. The state has not released a specific budget breakdown detailing the operational costs for maintaining this expanded aerial fleet. ## Regional Impact and Safety For residents in San Diego County, the placement of these resources at the Ramona Airport is intended to reduce travel time for aerial support during wildfire incidents. By stationing high-capacity aircraft and a dedicated helitack crew in the region, the state aims to provide a faster, more aggressive response to fires before they reach residential areas. The current records do not specify if these assets will remain permanently stationed in San Diego or if they will be redeployed to other high-risk zones across the state as fire conditions shift. This aerial expansion coincides with broader state-level wildfire preparations. As of June 5, 2026, the Governor’s office announced the fast-tracking of 400 additional wildfire prevention projects across California. These projects are part of a draft five-year action plan intended to mitigate catastrophic fire risks on state wildlands. ## Key Questions **What is the capacity of the new airtanker?** The fourth C-130H airtanker deployed to Ramona Airport can drop up to 4,000 gallons of fire retardant per flight. **How many C-130H aircraft does California plan to operate?** The state has a planned fleet of seven C-130H airtankers, four of which are currently in active service as of June 4, 2026.