With the need for additional aircraft to fight the Santa Cruz County Loma Fire, CalFire has dispatched additional fire aircraft, some of which will be operating out of the Hollister Airport.
The CalFire Hollister Air Attack Base at the airport usually accommodates three firefighting airplanes, including two Grumman S-2T airtankers and an OV-10 Bronco. However, due to the Loma Fire in Santa Cruz County, CalFire has assigned two additional 1,200-gallon, S-2T airtankers to the base. Both are normally stationed in Paso Robles.
Marc DiTullio, fire captain with CalFire, said the OV-10 Bronco is used as an "air-tactical group supervisor" for planes dropping water and retardant on the fire.
"It's an air-traffic controller for the group," he said, adding the plane has a clear windshield over the top of the cockpit for a wider view of the air.
All of the aircraft were on the ground at the airport but after 2 p.m., the OV-10 Bronco was scheduled to be back in the air, replacing another support plane.
CalFire has also set up a helicopter base at the San Martin airport. Nine helicopters were based there Monday to battle the Loma blaze.
The Hollister CalFire base covers an estimated nine counties, according to DiTullio, from Kings Canyon north past Tracy and from Interstate 5 west to Half Moon Bay. The station is run by one battalion chief, two fire captains, one fire apparatus engineer and five firefighters.
Colin McConville Colin McConville is a reporter with the Hollister Free Lance. You can reach him by email or at (831) 637-5566.
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