County outlines fire preparedness investments, seeks funding for night‑capable helicopter and fuel‑reduction measures

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors received a multi‑agency presentation on regional fire preparedness that reviewed staffing and apparatus, aviation assets, vegetation management, water supply for fire suppression, and the status of homeowners insurance in high‑risk areas.

County Fire Chief Tony Mecham told supervisors the county funds more than 320 firefighters through CAL FIRE and supports 21 county fire stations and 18 state‑funded stations. Chief Mecham said the county recently acquired two 3,000‑gallon water tenders to be strategically deployed and that county and partner agencies operate helicopters and fixed‑wing resources for aerial suppression.

San Diego Gas & Electric’s emergency management director Tom Porter described SDG&E’s ongoing support for aviation and weather monitoring infrastructure, including a network of more than 220 weather stations used to refine a local fire potential index. Porter confirmed SDG&E remains committed to aviation support, including two Black Hawk‑class helicopters stationed at Gillespie Field for initial…