Latest news with #Firehawk
CBS News
2 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Colorado's newest firefighting helicopter shelved for several weeks during wildfire season
In a case of bad timing, a helicopter purchased by the state for the specific purpose of fighting wildfires has been taken out of service in the middle of the summer fire season. The "state of the art" Firehawk is undergoing required regular maintenance, according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. An agency spokesperson told CBS Colorado the craft was taken out of service July 13 for thorough, mandated inspections. Several wildfires were ignited by lightning strikes on Colorado Western Slope the same day the Firehawk was taken out of service. Four of the larger fires - the South Rim, Turner Gulch, Sowbelly and Deer Creek incidents - are still burning. "We currently have 5 mechanics working on to get it back up and operational ASAP," CDFPC's Tracy LeClair stated. The normal duration of such inspections is several weeks, LeClair added. "We are hoping for sooner than that," LeClair stated. "They understand the urgency of getting us back up as soon as possible, without compromising safety." The Firehawk is a version of the military's UH-70 Black Hawk built by Sikorsky. The Si70i's wildfire conversion features a 1,000-gallon belly tank, extended landing gear, and a retractable snorkel that can refill the tank in less than a minute. Colorado ordered the aircraft following the 2020 wildfire season, one of the state's worst on record. The fires that year included the Cameron Peak, Pine Gulch, Grizzly Creek, Williams Ford, Middle Fork, East Troublesome and Calwood blazes. Three of those - Cameron Peak, Pine Gulch and East Troublesome - were the largest wildfires (in acreage) in state history. Colorado's legislature approved almost $31 million in 2021 for the purchase of the Firehawk and the leasing of other helicopters until its arrival. State officials celebrated the purchase in a press conference. "Not only will the Firehawk be an additional resource for aggressive and early initial attack," said Mike Morgan, Director of Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, at that press conference, "but it can also be used on longer duration wildfires." The state's Firehawk recently reached 480 hours of flight time, necessitating the scheduled maintenance, CDFPC's Tracy LeClair explained. "The military has the same scheduled maintenance and is down the same amount of time to perform these Safety Inspections as required by the manufacturer," LeClair stated. "The critical nature of performing quality maintenance on an aircraft is not like an ordinary vehicle. It cannot be postponed, and one mistake, malfunction, or component failure can be catastrophic and fatal, unlike rolling to the edge of a road and waiting for a tow truck when your car breaks down." The maintenance includes some disassembly of the Firehawk to inspect the airframe, and the flight control systems and components running throughout it. Both engines will be removed during the process. LeClair confirmed a second Firehawk is on order. "We were planning to perform this inspection in the winter months, but we had no choice on this 1st helicopter," she said. "Once we have our second helicopter, we can stagger the maintenance to ensure one aircraft is available at all times. We don't have a solid delivery date for the 2nd one yet, but it is tentatively scheduled for delivery and acceptance late summer/early fall."
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Borderlands 4 pre-order guide: Standard, Deluxe, and Super Deluxe Editions explained
Gearbox and 2K have officially opened up pre-orders for Borderlands 4, the next big entry in the chaotic looter-shooter franchise. The game releases worldwide on September 12, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is also on the way, expected to arrive later in the year. This time, there are three editions of the game to choose from: Standard, Deluxe, and Super Deluxe. Each one offers different content and bonuses, with some exclusive items and future DLC included in the pricier options. There's also a pre-order bonus, no matter which version you get. In India, prices will vary slightly by platform and retailer. However, the current pre-order pricing on the official Steam website suggests that Standard Edition will be for Rs. 4,999, Rs. 5,699 for Deluxe, and Rs. 7,499 for Super Deluxe. Let's break it all down. Borderlands 4 Standard Edition – $69.99 / Rs. 4,999 it's pre-order day motherfuckers!!! 💥 If you just want to enjoy the game and don't care about extra content, this version is enough. It includes the full game and a pre-order bonus. What's included: Full game (Borderlands 4 base version) Pre-order bonus Gilded Glory Pack: One Vault Hunter Skin, One Weapon Skin, One ECHO-4 Drone Skin This version doesn't include any DLC or post-launch content. It's best for new players or those who just want to experience the story. Borderlands 4 Deluxe Edition – $99.99 / Rs. 5,699 The Deluxe Edition adds a lot more to the experience, especially for players who enjoy new missions, weapons, and challenges after the main story ends. What's included: Everything in the Standard Edition Bounty Pack Bundle, which features: 4 DLC packs releasing after launch Each DLC includes new missions, bosses, and areas 4 Vault Cards with extra challenges and rewards Extra gear and weapons 4 new vehicles More Vault Hunter cosmetics Firehawk's Fury Weapon Skin These Vault Cards are great for players who like endgame content or want more reason to keep playing. The DLC packs will be released one by one after launch, though the exact timeline hasn't been shared yet. Borderlands 4 Super Deluxe Edition – $129.99 / Rs. 7,499 BREAKING:BORDERLANDS 4 is $69.99 for the standard edition!!!DELUXE EDITION is $99.99!!!SUPER DELUXE EDITION IS $129.99!!! This is the biggest bundle of the three. It has all Deluxe content and adds even more story, characters, regions, and cosmetic items. It's clearly made for hardcore Borderlands fans who want the full experience. What's included: Everything from Deluxe Edition Vault Hunter Pack, which gives: 2 extra story packs post-launch Each pack includes a new Vault Hunter with their own story New side missions and 2 new regions More weapons and gear Extra Vault Hunter cosmetics Ornate Order Pack (4 Vault Hunter Skins, 4 Vault Hunter Heads, 4 Vault Hunter Bodies) These story packs should feel like full expansions, adding even more to the base game. Gearbox hasn't revealed when they'll release, but they're expected sometime in 2026. Borderlands 4 pre-order bonuses No matter which edition you buy, pre-ordering gives you the Gilded Glory Pack, a bonus cosmetic set for your Vault Hunter and gear. This includes: Vault Hunter Skin Weapon Skin ECHO-4 Drone Skin This pack will be free for early buyers but will be sold separately after launch. Borderlands 4 platforms and where to buy You can pre-order Borderlands 4 right now from: PlayStation Store (PS5) Xbox Store (Xbox Series X|S) Steam or Epic Games Store (PC) All digital versions will also be available on GeForce NOW if you prefer cloud gaming. What to expect in Borderlands 4? The makers have promised a lot of free and paid updates after launch. They haven't said exactly what or when, but we should hear more during the Borderlands Fan Fest event on June 21, where they'll likely show new gameplay, trailers, and DLC plans. Here's what we know so far: Borderlands 4 takes place on Kairos, the biggest Borderlands map ever. The game has four brand new Vault Hunters with unique abilities. It features new traversal mechanics to explore different zones. The main villain is the Timekeeper, leading a powerful group called the Order. Should you pre-order Borderlands 4? Whoever said size doesn't matter was LYING!!!💥 Pre-orders are LIVE for Borderlands 4. 💥Which edition are you gunning for? If you're a casual player who just wants to enjoy the campaign, go for the Standard Edition. If you love side quests, unique weapons, and plan to keep playing post-launch, the Deluxe Edition offers better value. If you're a long-time fan or want to experience everything Borderlands 4 has to offer, Super Deluxe is the way to go.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Kern County Fire Dept. shares rendering of Firehawk helicopter
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Kern County Fire Department released renderings of its Firehawk helicopter which is set to level up firefighting power by 400% per helicopter, according to the Kern County Fire Department. The Firehawk helicopter will bring water drops from 250 gallons to 1,000 gallons per drop. Fire officials said the helicopters will be life-saving, wildfire-fighting machines that protect Kern County. The projected delivery for the Firehawk is set for 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
25-04-2025
- Health
- CBS News
UC Davis hospital wants to double number of helipads, but concerns grow over potential noise
SACRAMENTO — Air ambulances are often the quickest way for patients in rural areas to get critical medical care. The UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento currently has two active helipads, and now they want to add two more atop the new 14-story California Tower being built on campus. "We do expect some growth in helicopter arrivals," said Matt Dulcich, the hospital's director of planning. The hospital is the only level-one trauma center in the region, treating the most serious emergencies like shootings, burns and pediatric injuries. "That will really allow our patients who come by helicopter to have a direct elevator ride directly down into the emergency department," Dulcich said. And for the first time, military medevac copters and Cal Fire's new fleet will be able to land. "The new helipads will be large enough to accommodate the Firehawk helicopters, where the old ones are not," Dulcich said. The new heliport will be further away from existing homes, but the additional aircraft noise could cause a headache for some nearby neighbors. "We'll be focusing on about 100 residences that could be affected," Dulcich said. What mitigation measures is UC Davis Health taking to limit noise nuisances? The hospital is offering homeowners up to $35,000 in new acoustical windows, doors, skylights and improved insulation for those living in high-noise zones. "With each home being different and a different age and different design, we'll have to work carefully with each homeowner to determine what the best upgrades might be," Dulcich said. The hospital says some of their current facilities date back to the 1920s, and the new helipads and medical tower will help provide state-of-the-art health care for the growing region. "It will really improve patient access to new, modernized facilities," Dulcich said. The cost of the new California Tower is $3.7 billion, and it's scheduled to open in 2030.
Los Angeles Times
14-04-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
Man rescued after falling off 20-foot cliff in Laguna Beach
A 38-year-old man was rescued by helicopter after a dangerous 20-foot cliff fall this weekend, Laguna Beach lifeguards reported in a video shared on Instagram. Laguna Beach Fire Department and the Orange County Fire Authority responded to the cliff fall at an undisclosed location along the coast on Saturday, officials said. The man sustained non-life-threatening injuries, officials said. His name was not immediately released. This was the first-ever rescue mission for Orange County Fire Authority's OCFA Firehawk helicopter, officials said. 'High tide and sizable waves created unstable footing and made a traditional exit too dangerous. LBFD paramedics stabilized the patient on scene, and OCFA's Firehawk helicopter completed a hoist rescue to transport him for further medical treatment,' officials said. Authorities warned beachgoers to exercise caution. 'Laguna Beach's coastline is beautiful and fun to explore — but it demands caution,' officials said. 'The rocks are slick, unstable and often unpredictable. Always check in with a lifeguard before venturing near the cliffs or exploring the rocky shore. We're trained, ready and here to help keep you safe.'
