Fire Helicopters Being Returned to Service
The city Fire Department is putting its two single-engine helicopters back into action after being pulled from service because of an accident involving a similar model earlier this month.
Fire Chief William Bamattre took the two Bell 206 JetRangers out of service as a precautionary measure. “We weren’t going to take any chances,” said spokesman Brian Humphrey.
The Bell 206 helicopters are similar to the Bell 205 chopper that was damaged beyond repair after a forced landing Jan. 2 caused by engine failure. None of the three firefighters on board was injured.
One helicopter resumed service Thursday. The second will be back when preventive maintenance is completed, as well as the installation of new radios and a new infrared system that can detect hot spots and hidden fires not visible to the eye.
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