Tahoe fire officials work to secure permanent fire-rescue helicopter

A Blackhawk helicopter like this is what Tahoe officials would like to acquire. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

Caldor, Tamarack, Angora, Gondola, Emerald, Davis, King. How would those fires in and around the Lake Tahoe area have been different if there had been a dedicated regional helicopter based in the basin?

No one knows for sure.

But what officials do know is fire season is a year-round phenomenon; no longer limited to certain months. Fires are burning hotter, are more destructive, and take more resources to contain.

Those are some of the reasons why regional fire chiefs are working to develop a helitack base in the basin.

“Over 40 percent of wildfires in the Tahoe basin are caused by lightning and usually they are remote,” Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District Chief Scott Lindgren said. “A helicopter gets over it and puts it out. An example of that not happening was the (2022) Tamarack Fire. It would have been easy to put out with a helicopter, but the Forest Service allowed it to burn and be monitored, and then it became the Tamarack Fire. (If we had a helicopter), we would have put it out and we would never have heard of the Tamarack Fire.”

Lindgren is spearheading the project that would bring around-the-clock helicopter fire and rescue capabilities to Tahoe. He worked in CalFire’s air program for 28 years.

So far he has buy-in from 20 agencies in the surrounding area.

“I think the concept is a good one. One of the things we struggle with up here in the basin is air resources,” South Lake Tahoe Fire Chief Jim Drennan said. “The concept is really sound.”

A conceptual plan is in place to have the base in Zephyr Cove.

“Whittell High School sits on almost 60 acres, surrounded by Douglas (County) and U.S. Forest Service property,” Lindgren said of why this location was chosen. “A helicopter base is like a fire station without big apparatuses. It’s just like a fire station, but instead it has helicopters.”

The CalFire helitack base in Vina in Butte County, which opened in 2020, is being looked at as a model, with the Tahoe one projected to be smaller.

It would include living quarters, kitchen, workout room, lounge area, a helipad, and hangar for the birds.

“I would love to see it come to fruition. From a rescue and fire standpoint it can save lot of lives and property,” Lake Valley Fire Chief Chad Stephen said.

This is a rendering of where the helitack base at Whittell High School could be located. (Image: Nichols, Melburg & Rossetto Architects + Engineers)

Rescue and fire capabilities

For fire suppression the helicopter will have a removable fixed tank underneath that intakes water through a snorkel from a lake or other source, as well has having a hook with a long-line bucket that allows for more precise water drops.     

What it won’t be is an air ambulance. The helicopter will be equipped to transport people to ground ambulances or an agency like CalStar.

A Blackhawk crew is usually 10-11 people, but it can fit 14.

At the base in Vina a truck follows the helicopter, carrying 1,000 gallons of jet fuel. The helicopter holds 362 gallons. This allows for about six hours of flying time. CalFire is working on a another generation of fuel trucks that would carry more fuel.

The California Highway Patrol helicopter based in Auburn is most often the one used in rescue situations in the basin.

“Two summers ago we requested a rescue helicopter in the Tahoe basin nine times and seven times we were denied because it was not available,” Lindgren said. “We were denied by CHP because they were on other emergencies.”

Hiking in versus flying to person in a medical emergency can be a life or death situation.          

The helitack base in Vina (Butte County) is the inspiration for what could be built in the Tahoe basin. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

Making it a reality

Lindgren wants the helicopters to be operational before the helitack base is built. He has a goal of limited operations this summer, then expanding hours, with a fully developed program as funding allows.

Money could be the most difficult hurdle. It’s the part of the process that most concerns chiefs Drennan and Stephen.

A new Blackhawk helicopter like what CalFire flies costs about $26 million, while a military surplus refurbished chopper is closer to $3.5 million, according to Lindgren.

He said the Tahoe base is looking to acquire two or three used helicopters until enough funding is secured for a new one.

More than one is necessary to have a 24/7, 365-day operation. Maintenance requirements are strict, so the helicopters are periodically out of service.

Plus, pilots are limited in their flying time, so that will be a staffing consideration.

The primary helicopter would always be available in the region, while the others could be deployed to fires elsewhere.

“Most of the money will come from donations in the region initially. Then from there part of our business plan is to do a lot of contract work with other agencies, corporate sponsors,” Lindgren said. “For instance, the power companies use helicopters all the time for slinging poles and wire.”

To date, Lindgren has secured about $2 million in donations, which are tax deductible because of the nonprofit that has been established through the Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation.

Federal and state grants are another potential revenue source, as is contracting with CalFire, U.S. Forest Service and Nevada Division of Forestry.

Eventually, a joint powers authority with a board of directors would be created to manage the helitack operation.

Formal approval by Douglas County School District for the helitack base to be built on be on their land is needed. The county and Federal Aviation Administration will also have a say.

An FAA spokesperson only said, “The FAA has guidance on heliport design and qualification which outlines how to construct a heliport that meets regulatory requirements.”

The sole FAA registered heliport in Douglas County is at Carson Valley Medical Center Gardnerville.

Meg Ragonese with the Nevada Department of Transportation said, “Although we do not have approval authority over new aviation facility construction, we assist with the FAA approval application process, conduct on-site inspections to identify any hazards or obstacles that may delay approval, and offer valuable safety-related feedback to those planning new aviation facility developments.”

Permitting for a helipad by that Tahoe Regional Planning is necessary, with rules found in the Code of Ordinances.

In the application the bi-state planning agency would review potential impacts to the 10 categories of environmental standards, which range from water and air quality, to soil, wildlife, and noise.

Lindgren is shooting for this spring to have 30 percent of the design phase complete, with the permitting process starting soon thereafter.

Note: A version of this story first appeared in the Tahoe Mountain News.