The CAL (CA) FIRE Hawk, one of a dozen firefighting helicopters purchased by the state for $288 million, made its debut this week at the Boggs Mountain helitack base in Lake County, reports pressdemocrat.com.

Copter 104, which can travel up to 160 mph and carry 1,000 gallons of water, can fly to Santa Rosa in 10-12 minutes and drop a 300-yard trail of water from 100 feet above ground or tree level upon arrival, the report says. It can ferry seven firefighters and can conduct rescues with a hoist and a 250-foot cable. The apparatus also has twin 2,000-horsepower turbine engines.

In addition, the $24 million chopper is capable of firefighting in the dark; CAL FIRE is moving into a program with the apparatus flown by pilots with night vision goggles. Five bases have been approved for the program—the report notes that it marks CAL FIRE’s first entry into nighttime firefighting since the agency’s aviation branch started with converted crop dusters serving as air tankers in the 1950s.

CAL FIRE now has 58 aircrafts, 23 air tankers, and other fixed-wing aircraft.

Boggs Mountain is not currently in line for the night-flying program, and the designated base closest to Sonoma County is the Alma Helitack Fire Station at Los Gatos in Santa Clara County. The other four bases in the program are in Humboldt, Tehama, San Bernardino, and San Benito counties. Ten helitack bases will eventually acquire one, with two Hawks held in reserve.

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A Kingsbury (TX) volunteer firefighter was hurt yesterday morning when the engine she was driving to an emergency call was run off the road, causing the apparatus to roll over and trapping her inside, reports seguingazette.com.

As the 40-year-old firefighter drove the engine, another vehicle ran her off the road. The firefighter overcorrected, lost control on Farm-to-Market 1104, and rolled the apparatus onto its roof, officials say.

The site of the accident is less than a mile from the Kingsbury Volunteer Fire Department—near the corner of U.S. Highway 90 and FM 1104.

She had minor injuries, officials add, and was stable and alert once extricated. The firefighter was then taken to Ascension Seton Hays Hospital in Kyle. No other injuries were reported.

Police officials are investigating the crash.

CustomFIRE—Good Will Fire Company, West Chester, PA, pumper. Spartan Metro Star cab and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engine; Hale Qmax 2,250-gpm pump; UPF Poly 750-gallon water tank; front bumper extension with hosewells; adjustable compartment shelving; pull-out compartment trays; wheel well SCBA cylinder storage. Dealer: Wayde Kirvida, CustomFIRE, Osceola, WI.

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COVID-19 delayed a long-expected fire station project and now costs are too high, reports Fox 43.

Lancaster Township Fire had received all the necessary approvals and permits, but the cost to build has become $700,000 more than anticipated.

The current plan is to wait and see if the cost goes back down or fundraise to make up for the difference. The new facility will be built for modern firefighting and replace long outdated facilities.