This coming Tuesday, October 19 as the Santa Ana winds surface across Southern California, the Los Angeles County Fire Department will be hosting its annual training exercise at Helispot 69 Bravo above Topanga Canyon/Malibu. The four Quick Reaction Force (QFR) aircraft and their Pilots from Orange County Fire Authority, Los Angeles County Fire Department and Ventura County Fire Department will be conducting both day and night hover-fill and water drop exercises.
The Quick Reaction Force (QFR) includes the new 2 Chinook helicopters, (see video and read more about the world’s largest helicopters here!) each based in Los Angeles and Orange County (read more about the Chinooks here) and fire fighting Fire Hawks from Ventura, Los Angeles and Orange County Fire Departments
This exercise will familiarize the Fire Fighting Helicopter pilots and their crews with the 69 Bravo Helispot operations and the particular terrain of the Eastern Santa Monica Mountains and their communities.
This is a tremendous “proactive” exercise by the Los Angeles County, Orange County and Ventura County Fire Departments to familiarize and protect our mountain communities. The exercises will begin approximately at 4pm and conclude by 8pm.
