When their lake dried up, firefighters in Golden Hills, Calif., designed & built a helicopter dip site

Like many communities on the wildland/ urban interface, the semi-rural community of Golden Hills, Calif., relies on helicopter operations to support firefighting. Before the blazes threaten homes, helicopters can provide rapid, effective protection by stopping fires in areas that are often hard for handcrews to reach. Such helicopters depend on an available source of water, but natural dip sites-lakes and rivers-are not always in close proximity to inhabited areas, and drought conditions are drying up more and more natural bodies of water. In Golden Hills, we decided helicopter operations were so vital to our fire protection that we could not rely on nature to save us. Instead, we built a dip site of our own.

A Little Bit of History
Golden Hills' 7,400 inhabitants reside in the Tehachapi Mountains of Kern County, about 100 miles north of Los Angeles. The terrain consists of rolling hills and canyons at approximately 4,000-foot elevation, surrounded by mountains up to 7,000 feet. Golden Hills is a classic wildland/urban interface: seasonal grass, sagebrush, chaparral and oak dominate the landscape, presenting a significant wildfire threat. The typical long, dry Southern California fire season is enhanced by a consistent prevailing westerly wind during summer and a warm, dry east wind in the fall. The terrain of the Tehachapi Pass, where electrical-energy-producing wind turbines dot the landscape, amplifies the fire threat.

Golden Hills has experienced steady growth during the last few decades and is in the midst of a building surge of mostly single-family homes. As a result of the growth in population, we've seen an increase in fire occurrence. A major transportation corridor, with a four-lane state highway and one of the busiest railroad lines in the nation, contributes to the numerous fire starts.

The Kern County Fire Department (KCFD), with more than 500 paid members, provides full-time fire protection to the region. The KCFD operates a fixed-wing air-attack ship out of Meadows Field in Bakersfield, as well as Helicopter 408 (H-408), a federal surplus Vietnam-era UH-1H Super Huey. The county's helicopter has proven itself invaluable on countless occasions by saving homes and other property and keeping fires small, both within Kern County and in neighboring counties.

The effectiveness of H-408 has perhaps been most evident in Golden Hills and surrounding communities due to the close proximity of its helibase in Keene, located about five air miles to the northwest. This close proximity allows for a quick response into our area and has contributed significantly to firefighting successes in recent years.

However, adequate water dip sites are somewhat scarce in the vicinity.

Fire-attack helicopters responding to the Kern County area have long used Tom Sawyer Lake, located in the heart of Golden Hills, as a dip site. The lake was well suited for helicopter operations, with ample water and clear approach and departure routes. But when the lake dried up after losing its water source in 2003, it didn't take long for firefighters and members of the Golden Hills Community Service District (GHCSD) to realize that a new source of water was needed-and fast.

PHOTO COURTESY DALE MILLER Helicopter 408 drops a load of water during the media demonstration of the new dip site

Demonstrating the Need
The need for a new dip site came to a head in August 2004 during the Sycamore Fire, which burned more than 30 acres and threatened several homes. Several ground units and H-408 were on scene within 10 minutes of dispatch; after offloading the helitack crew at the fire, H-408 deployed its snorkel and prepared to make water drops. However, the helicopter's effectiveness was severely diminished because the closest suitable dip site was Brite Lake, about a four-mile flight with a turnaround time of roughly six minutes.

It was obvious a closer water source was needed, so personnel deployed a water tender to the parking lot of the Golden Hills Country Club, within one mile of the fire, and H-408 refilled using a 2 1/2" hose from the tender to a connection on its tank. This action cut the turnaround time by more than half and greatly improved the outcome of the fire-no homes were lost.

Although we had averted disaster with a temporary solution, the Sycamore Fire confirmed the need for a permanent helicopter water source in close proximity to Golden Hills. In helicopter operations, turnaround time is critical. If the time between retrieving a load of water and delivering that water on the fire is cut in half, one helicopter becomes as effective as two.

Gaining Support
We knew we needed to take action, but before we could start building a permanent dip site, we needed the support of firefighters, pilots and district officials. I first spoke with H-408 Captain Kevin Loomis and Pilot Pat Williams, who both immediately agreed to the idea.

Next, I approached John Crowdy, a GHCSD board member who lives near the area the Sycamore Fire burned. I shared with Crowdy how the fire had threatened several homes and how a closer water source would have reduced the threat. As a town official and a former county reserve firefighter, Crowdy not only understood the need for enhancing helicopter capabilities in the community, he also was in a position to inform the other board members of the project's importance. He immediately agreed to help. Finally, we secured the support of the Greater Tehachapi Fire-Safe Council and the local county supervisor's office. Such support was key in the coming weeks as we worked to put the dip site into operation, and it underscores the importance of building solid working relationships between fire departments, other public-service agencies and local utilities.

Selecting a Site
The next step was a meeting between the GHCSD and county fire personnel to plan the project and locate acceptable sites. The group toured and evaluated five potential sites throughout Golden Hills. We considered several factors in deciding where to locate the site: adequate water supply, vehicle access, proximity to the threat and most importantly, flight safety requirements. Eventually, we narrowed the choices down to two locations-one directly adjacent to the GHCSD office and maintenance facility (on property owned by the county) and one next to a GHCSD water-storage tank, about 1 1/2 miles west of the first location and about 500 feet higher in elevation.

We chose the property next to the office because we felt the logistics would be easier to manage and the project could be completed more quickly. The chosen site is centrally located on flat ground, with clear approach and departure routes, and it's close to a district water main. The site also features good road access and ample room for a helicopter landing zone and vehicle parking. Another benefit: The site would be under the watchful eyes of GHCSD personnel, who could help monitor its condition and easily maintain the water supply.

Next, we had to decide on a reservoir configuration-an above-ground, open-top tank or an in-ground reservoir with a plastic liner (to protect the tapered dirt banks from erosion). Because the pilot and helitack crew would be the end users of the dip site, their approval was mandatory. They agreed to either option, as long as the product was usable and safe. We chose the in-ground option because it would be cheaper and faster to build. After drafting a design, district personnel sent it to the fire department staff for approval.

PHOTO COURTESY TONY DIFFENBAUGH The Golden Hills reservoir with a heavy-duty plastic liner. The water inlet is at the top right, encased in concrete.

PHOTO COURTESY SHANE REED Personnel offload a surplus fiberglass tank at Keene Helibase for construction of an additional dip site in the Keene area.

Site Construction
Within a few days of the KCFD approval, GHCSD General Manager Bill Fisher ordered the pipe and equipment needed to extend the water supply to the site and a custom-fit poly liner to install in the reservoir. In less than a week, GHCSD personnel, with help from members of the helitack crew, constructed a below-ground water supply line consisting of about 200 feet of 8" pipe along the major road, then branching off with 150 feet of 4" pipe to an above-ground 2 1/2" hydrant and wheel-valve assembly. Heavy-equipment operators from the KCFD used a backhoe to dig the hole for the reservoir, completing the job in about a day despite being called to a fire midway through the afternoon.

Holding more than 6,000 gallons of water, the reservoir is 20 feet by 20 feet at the top and tapers down to a depth of five feet. About 40 feet of 4" pipe runs below the ground from the wheel valve to the reservoir. The outlet is encased in concrete at a corner of the dip site bank and is equipped with a diffuser that slows the water velocity as it enters the reservoir. With a flow of more than 1,000 gpm, the reservoir is operational in about four minutes after the valve is opened. Adding the hydrant to the wheel-valve assembly serves two functions: The hydrant can be used to connect fire hose for use in dust abatement, as well as to fill helicopters with tanks configured to require hose connection. In the event of a large fire, the dip site design accommodates the different water-delivery configurations of mutual-aid helicopters coming into the area.

Within three weeks of conception, the Golden Hills Helicopter Dip Site was operational. The following week, local firefighters and the helitack crew participated in a test drill of the dip site. Operators opened the valve and filled the reservoir in just over five minutes; H-408 performed a "feet wet" test with success. To spread the word, we sent a press release to local media announcing the completion of the dip site and inviting the public to a demonstration the following week.

The public event was well attended and the demonstration by H-408 was popular with the crowd, which included members of the community, the media, the GHCSD, the KCFD and the Fire-Safe Council, as well as several community leaders. Subsequent news stories have helped build support for future dip sites in our local area and throughout the rest of the county.

PHOTO COURTESY DALE MILLER Helicopter 408 takes on a load of water at the Golden Hills site.

Postscript
Immediately following the dedication of the dip site, Golden Hills and the entire state of California experienced near-record rainfall, effectively ending the fire season; as a result, the dip site was not put to the test that year. On July 9, 2005, the Golden Hills site was used for the first time for the Loop Fire. An additional dip site built following the success of the Golden Hills site-the Tucker Road site-was also used July 9 for the 1,000-acre High Fire. The sites were used on three other fires during the 2005 season.

The group responsible for conceiving this project, now known officially as the Golden Hills Fire Protection Committee, is working toward constructing additional dip sites and is expanding the project into surrounding areas beyond the borders of Golden Hills. The Tehachapi-Cummings Water District, which maintains an agricultural water-distribution system that covers the area, is now a partner in the project. Two additional dip sites were recently put in service using the open-top tank design, and four more sites are in the planning stage.

With the continued support of the agencies and organizations previously mentioned, those involved hope additional dip sites will soon be operational, further enhancing the capabilities of the KCFD Air Operations Unit.

Future Sites Fire-protection personnel hope to build on their success with additional dip sites Following the success of the initial dip site construction, the KCFD and its partner agencies plan to build at least four more dip sites throughout the area, and several sites countywide, strategically located to provide quick turnaround for helicopter operations. A local water-treatment chemical manufacturer has donated surplus tanks for the project. Features include: The tanks will be 131/2 feet in diameter and constructed of 3/4-inch-thick fiberglass. The tanks will be cut to a height of 6 feet, open at the top with overflow piping. The finished capacity of each tank will be about 5,000 gallons. The tanks will be buried about 21/2 feet into the ground to reduce turbulence created by hovering helicopters. A hydrant and valve assembly, similar to the one used at the original site, will be used to supply water from the agricultural water main to the tank. Because the tanks will be kept empty unless in use, each tank will feature a drain at the bottom. Each dip site will be fenced for security and safety. The fence will be placed far enough away from the reservoir to eliminate interference with the helicopter snorkel or bucket.

The author would like to dedicate this article to the memory of Phil Gray, battalion chief of the Kern County Fire Department, who recently passed away. Phil was a fine firefighter and a finer man.

Tony Diffenbaugh is an engineer and fire inspector with the Kern County Fire Department in Tehachapi, Calif. He has been with the fire service since 1978 and has worked in both fire suppression and fire prevention.