YLWD’s Marc Marcantonio is First Ever Permanent Heli-Hydrant

The Yorba Linda Water District’s (YLWD) Marc Marcantonio Heli-Hydrant is the first ever permanent heli-hydrant. It is an innovative 12-foot wide, 2,400-gallon water tank for firefighting helicopters.

The heli-hydrant allows first responders to save critical time and effectively fight fires by offering a strategically placed, quick-fill, pilot-operated water source that can fill in just six minutes. The remote operation of it also allows greater safety of ground firefighters and water sources in areas that ground firefighters cannot reach. This heli-hydrant offers Orange County a game-changing way to safeguard life, property, and the environment for the benefit of the community.

In late October, the award-winning Marc Marcantonio Heli-Hydrant supported aerial firefighters battling the Blue Ridge Fire. The Heli-Hydrant reduced response time for helicopters because YLWD strategically placed it in the wildland-urban interface zone affected by the Blue Ridge Fire.

The Boeing Chinook CH-47 helitankers filled at the Heli-Hydrant with roughly 2,000 gallons of water in 56 seconds. They made drops on spot fires in the Chino Hills area and returned in four minutes to repeat this process to safeguard life, property, and the environment.

In the upcoming year, YLWD plans to build more heli-hydrants throughout the district to give the community increased protection from wildfires. Learn more about the Marc Marcantonio Heli-Hydrant at the YLWD website.