Fighting Fires From Above

In a state where each year fire season seems to arrive earlier and last longer, investing in wildfire prevention is critical and ongoing.

"We are leading the way in reducing the threat of wildfires by completing 84% of our planned grid hardening work which has reduced the risk of losses associated with catastrophic wildfires by 85 to more than 90% compared to pre-2018 levels," said Steve Powell, Southern California Edison president and CEO. "We've also invested in fire suppression resources and advanced technologies to keep our communities safe."

But, while back-to-back years of heavy rains helped reduce drought conditions across the state, it also created denser fuels that are dry once again, leading to a heightened fire season.

SCE's partnership with local fire agencies helps programs, including the Quick Reaction Force, fight fires year-round.

"This year is turning out to be one of the busiest fire seasons we have experienced in a long time," said Orange County Fire Authority Chief Brian Fennessy. "That's saying something if you look at the fires we've had over the last decade."

Just this year, the Quick Reaction Force - a fire suppression program started by SCE that provides Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties year-round access to firefighting helitankers - has already dropped more than a million gallons of water and retardant on fires across Southern California.

The airborne firefighting fleet consists of three Coulson-Unical CH-47 helitankers and a Sikorsky-76 intelligence and recon helicopter. Each helitanker can carry up to 3,000 gallons of water or retardant and can fill its tank in just 90 seconds without needing to land. The fleet can also fly at night, while fixed-wing aircraft are grounded - a unique advantage.

In 90 seconds, a helitanker can fill its tank with up to 3,000 gallons of water or retardant without needing to land.

With a busy fire season, the Quick Reaction Force has been in action nearly nonstop. The intensity of each blaze is a reminder how important it is to hit fires fast and hard, and how devastating it can be if you don't.

"Once a fire has exceeded what we have sent out on the initial attack, many times all bets are off," Fennessy said.

In recent years, the fires that do make it past initial attack - 10 acres - have led to greater structural loss and damage.

"That's just a reflection of what goes on throughout California," Fennessy said. "If we do not contain these fires and slow them down quickly, we are going to see structure loss to the tune of many millions of dollars."

SCE's wildfire mitigation efforts have helped reduce the risk of losses from wildfires by more than 85 to more than 90% compared to pre-2018 levels, but fire season remains active.

That is exactly why the Quick Reaction Force matters. These helicopters give crews an edge against each fire and are often the only thing stopping it from becoming an out-of-control inferno.

"This program saves lives, it protects property and it has delivered an incredible return on investment," said California Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris. "I'm grateful for SCE's leadership, for the resources that they've invested and also recognize that we need to supplement that funding at the county and the state level."

"I'll continue to work with leaders at every level to help transition and supplement that funding, bring more resources to bear so that we can continue to have this program across Southern California," she said.

For more information on SCE's wildfire mitigation efforts, visit edison.com/wildfire.