Firefighters in Orange County, California, now have an additional aerial resource to support their wildfire response efforts.
The new Tivoli HeloPod, a stationary water refill station for firefighting helicopters, was officially launched on Monday in Aliso Viejo.
This HeloPod, a second installation in Orange County, allows helicopters to swiftly refill their water tanks before returning to fire suppression efforts.
According to the California Office of Planning and Research, the HeloPod is “important for public safety” as it enables a faster turnaround time for helicopters deployed in fire emergencies.
The installation aims to address the challenges posed by “what is now a year-round wildfire season,” as stated by the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA).
With this new equipment, OCFA maintains its objective to contain all wildfires within 10 acres or less 95% of the time.
The HeloPod technology provides firefighters with a reliable water source positioned near high-risk wildfire zones, a function described as essential for public safety by the California Office of Planning and Research’s Environment Quality Act.
“The goal of the project is to increase public safety by providing a more consistent water source close to wildland areas,” the act outlines.
Manufactured by Pump-Pod USA, the HeloPod is designed to deploy quickly in fire situations, allowing helicopters to refill in approximately five minutes after being lowered to the ground.
The equipment connects to local water systems and, when configured with an auto-fill valve, begins refilling as soon as water is extracted, according to Pump-Pod USA’s product description.
The OCFA showcased the Tivoli HeloPod’s functions during a media event on Monday, illustrating how helicopters retrieve water and efficiently disperse it over targeted wildfire zones.
This streamlined process was displayed as a strategic enhancement for initial fire attacks, critical to slowing fire spread.
OCFA Chief Brian Fennessy emphasized the importance of swift and substantial water drops during wildfire response: “It’s really simple…it means a high volume of water dropped with strategic precision and tremendous speed before the fire has a chance to run,” Fennessy stated.
The new HeloPod station provides immediate water access, supporting Fennessy’s focus on prompt, aggressive firefighting tactics.
The Aliso Viejo HeloPod is the second installation of its kind in Orange County, complementing an existing station in San Juan Capistrano.
The two HeloPods together enhance the regional firefighting capability by enabling quicker access to water supplies for firefighting helicopters, particularly valuable during peak wildfire season.
With a high refresh rate facilitated by municipal water sources, the HeloPod’s performance is tailored for sustained firefighting missions.
The OCFA plans to utilize this infrastructure as part of its ongoing efforts to improve public safety and fire containment across Orange County.
Orange County firefighters have strengthened their wildfire response capabilities with a second HeloPod, launched in Aliso Viejo on Monday.
The HeloPod, a quick-fill station for firefighting helicopters, allows rapid water replenishment, supporting faster turnaround times during active wildfire suppression.
As the California Office of Planning and Research states, the equipment is important for public safety, enabling consistent access to water near high-risk zones.
OCFA Chief Brian Fennessy highlighted the HeloPod’s role in immediate water deployment, key to effective initial fire attacks.
The new HeloPod joins another in San Juan Capistrano, expanding Orange County’s aerial firefighting resources in response to a nearly year-round fire season.
