Fire Preps Include Helicopter Placement

A Huey Helicopter that was once hit by bullets in Vietnam is among the sheriff’s fleet ready to fight fires.

Sheriff’s pilot Blake Burris and his crew flew into Santa Barbara airport from Santa Ynez to be closer to any wildfires that break out in southern Santa Barbara County.

The water-dropping helicopter has been in the same area the past few days.

If someone reports smoke it will head to the nearest reservoir. It can drop 350 gallons of water at a time. The crew stayed at the airport until 10 p.m. Tuesday during a red flag warning that predicted sundowner winds.

Santa Barbara county fire Capt. David Sedecki said the winds that come down from the canyons can fan flames in unpredictable ways.

Sedecki said with triple-digit temperatures and drought conditions firefighters want to get a jump on wind-driven fires before they get out of control.

Extra staffing was called in after a strike team that included five engines left to help fight the fire near Mt. Shasta in Northern California on Monday.