San Diego prepares for fire season

San Diego’s city council voted unanimously to extend the lease on its fire helicopter for six months. The Bell 212HP is operated by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, but paid for by the county.

The lease of the aircraft, through Boise, Idaho-based Kachina-Helijet Aviation, was due to expire at Christmas. The County Board of Supervisors agreed to set aside $1.6 million to extend the lease on the aircraft on a month-to-month basis from January through June. The helicopter costs about $255,900 per month to operate, according to a city manager’s report.