Protecting Our Own
Navy Helicopter Squadrons Help Extinguish Fires in Southern California
A fast-moving wildfire that broke out in Southern California May 2 got within close range of Naval Base Ventura County the following day, threatening the base, including family housing.
In response to the fires, three flight crews from the San Diego-based "Merlins" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 3 and the Blackjacks of HSC-21 provided firefighting support. The crews dropped roughly 20,000 gallons of water using 360-gallon firefighting buckets to help save vital areas of the base from the fire.
In response to the fires, three flight crews from the San Diego-based "Merlins" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 3 and the Blackjacks of HSC-21 provided firefighting support. The crews dropped roughly 20,000 gallons of water using 360-gallon firefighting buckets to help save vital areas of the base from the fire.
