PanethosThe following list identifies helitack (helicopter attack) bases established for fighting wildfires in the United States. Multiple federal agencies maintain such bases, as do some states. There are also interagency helitack bases located near multi-jurisdictional wildfire protection areas.
Source: cetraloregonrapellers.comThese facilities can be referred to as modules, helibases, airbase, or rappel bases, as well as helitack bases. When the year a helitack base was first established is known, it is provided in parentheses.
Source: helistream.comAside from getting boots on the ground to limit and/or fight wildfires, these brave crews also fight wildland fires from the air, help with search and rescue operations, and other emergency tasks. All of them deserve our sincere gratitude and thanks.
New Vina, CA Helitack Base design: Source: appeal-democrat.comAs always, any additions, corrections, or suggestions to this blogpost are most welcome. Peace!
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Bureau of Indian Affairs
- Billings Helitack Base: Billings, MT
- Crow Helitack Base: Crow Agency, MT
- Fort Apache Helitack Base: Whiteriver, AZ
- Mission Valley Helitack Base (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes): Ronan, MT
- Navajo Helitack Base: Window Rock, AZ
- Red Lake Helitack Base (Redlake Tribe): Redlake, MN
- Ute Mountain Helitack Base: Towaoc, CO
Bureau of Land Management
- Boise Helitack Base: Boise, ID
- Elko Helitack Base: Elko, NV
- Ely Helitack Base: Ely, NV
- Garden Valley Helitack Base: Garden Valley, ID
- Hines Helitack Base: Hines, OR
- Las Vegas Helitack Base: North Las Vegas, NV
- Lucky Break Helitack Base: Lucky Peak, ID
- Miles City Helitack Base: Miles City, MT
- High Desert Helitack Base: Rawlins, WY
- Rifle Helitack Base: Rifle, CO
- Salt Lake Helitack Base: West Valley City, UT
- Vale Helitack Base: Vale, OR
- Weaver Mountain Helitack Base: Wickenburg, AZ
National Park Service
- Ash Mountain Helibase (1960): Sequoia & Kings Canyon Natonal Parks/Three Rivers, CA
- Grand Canyon Helitack Base: Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
- Flathead Helitack Base: Hungry Horse, MT
- Mesa Verde Helitack Base (1979): Mesa Verde National Park, CO
- Yosemite Helitack Base: Yosemite National Park, CA
- Zion Helitack Base: Zion National Park, UT
United States Forest Service
- Bald Mountain Helitack Base: Mi-Wuk Village, CA
- Bitteroot Helitack Base: Hamilton, MT
- Bridgeport Helitack and Battle Born Helitack Bases: Minden, NV – Thank you, Gifford
- Burns Helitack Base: Burns, OR – Thank you, Gifford
- Central Oregon Rappellers Base (1974): Prineville, OR – see photo at top of the blogpost
- Chester Helitack Base: Chester, CA
- Chuchupate Helitack Base (1970s): Frazier Park, CA
- Coronado Helitack Base: Tucson, AZ
- Ely Helitack Base: Ely, MN
- Grande Ronde Rappellers Base (1992): La Grande, OR – see image at the bottom of the blogpost
- Grangeville Helitack Base: Grangeville, ID
- Happy Camp Helitack Base: Happy Camp, CA
- Heaps Peak Helibase: Lake Arrowhead, CA
- Helena Helitack Base: Helena, MT
- Idaho Panhandle Helitack Base: Hayden, ID
- Inyo Helitack Base: Independence. CA
- Kaibab Helitack Base: Pittman Valley, AZ
- Kankakee Helitack Base: Kankakee, IL
- Keenwild Helibase (2010): Idyllwild, CA
- Kootenai Helitack Base: Libby, MT
- Lancaster Helitack Base: Lancaster, CA
- Lolo Helitack Base: Missoula Aerial Fire Depot, MT
- Marquette Helitack Base: Marquette, MI
- Montrose Helitack Base: Montrose, CO
- Monument Helitack Base (1984): Monument. CO
- Nevada City Helitack Base: Nevada City, CA
- Payson Helitack Base (1976/2024) – Payson, AZ – see image below
- Placerville Helitack Base: Placerville, CA
- Plumas Helitack Base (1958): Quincy, CA
- Pollock Pines Helitack Base: Pollock Pines, CA
- Prescott Fire Center Helitack Base: Prescott, AZ
- Price Valley Helitack Base (early 1970s): New Meadows, ID
- Rolla Helitack Base: Rolla, MO
- Round Valley Helitack (late 1960s): Springerville, AZ
- Salmon Air Base: Salmon, ID
- Sandia Helitack Base: Tijeras, NM
- Sawtooth Helitack Base (1963): Stanley/Ketchum, ID
- Scott Valley Helitack Base: Fort Jones, CA
- Sierra Helitack Base: Silver City, NM
- Siskiyou Rappel Airbase: Grants Pass, OR
- Swan Valley Helitack Base: Swan Valley, ID
- Trimmer Helitack Base: Sanger, CA
- Twin Falls Helitack Base: Twin Falls, ID
- Wasatch Helitack Superbase (2012): Mountain Green, UT
- Wenatchee Valley Airbase (1971): East Wenatchee, WA
Interagency Bases
- Apple Valley Helibase: Apple Valley, CA
- Bridgeport Helitack Base: Bridgeport, CA
- Black Hills Helitack Base (1959): Custer, SD
- Cedar City Airbase: Cedar City, UT
- Lakeview Helitack Base: Lakeview, OR
- Lewiston Helitack Base: Lewiston, MT
- Malheur Rappel Airbase (1971): John Day, OR
- Moab Helitack Base (2001): Moab, UT
- Moki Helitack Base: St. George, UT
- Northern Colorado Helitack Base (2013): Boulder County, CO
- San Diego County Helitack Base: San Diego, CA
- Santa Fe Helitack Base (2001): Santa Fe, NM
- Teton Helitack Base – Jackson Hole, WY
- Vulcan Peak Helitack Base: Albuquerque, NM
State Bases
Alaska DOF (Department of Forests)
- Delta Area Helitack Base: Delta Junction, AK
- Fairbanks Helitack Base: Fairbanks, AK
- Tok Area Helitack Base: Tok, AK
CAL FIRE
- Alma Helitack Base: Los Gatos, CA – proposed to be moved to Moffett Airfield, Mountain View, CA
- Bear Valley Helitack Base: Bear Valley, CA
- Bieber Helitack Base: Bieber, CA
- Boggs Mountain Helitack Base (1969): Loch Lomond, CA – see image above
- Columbia Air Attack Base: Columbia, CA
- Hemet Ryan Air Attack Base (1959): Hemet, CA
- Howard Forest Helitack Base: Willits, CA
- Kneeland Helitack Base: Kneeland, CA – moving to a site near Blue Hills, CA
- Prado Helitack Base (1988): Chino, CA – see image below
- Rohnerville Air Attack Base: Rohnerville, CA
- Vina Helitack Base (1974): Vina, CA – see image near top of this blogpost
MONTANA DNR
- MDNR Helitack Base: Missoula, MT
UTAH DNR
- Diamond Fork Helitack (2024): Spanish Fork, UT
WASHINGTON DNR
- Colville Helitack Base: Colville, WA
- Dallsport Helitack Base: Dallasport, WA
- Deer Park Helitack Base (1960s): Deer Park, WA
- Ellensburg Helitack Base: Ellensburg, WA
- Olympia Helitack Base (1960s): Olympia, WA
- Omak Helitack Base: Omak, WA
- Pomeroy Helitack Base: Pomeroy, WA
- Wenatchee Helitack Base: Wenatchee, WA
- Yakima Helitack Base: Yakima, WA
WYOMING DNR
- Duncan Ranch Helitack Base: Glenrock, Wyoming
Bases Whose Status is Unclear
- Ravendale, CA – moved to Susanville in 2024 – Thank you, Gifford
- Caliente, NV – now Bridgeport, CA? – Moved to Minden, NV – Thank you, Gifford
- Pony Springs, NV?
- Lewiston, CA – closed?
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- SOURCES:
- https://www.bia.gov/service/wildfire-response/aviation
- https://gacc.nifc.gov/gbcc/dispatch/ut-mfc/Aviation/MoabHelitack/helitack.htm
- https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/state-information/nevada
- https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire/regional-info/arizona
- https://www.dnr.wa.gov/Aviation
- https://wsfd.wyo.gov/fire-management/wsfd-helitack
- https://wildlandfirejobs.com/helitack/
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd521239.pdf
- https://lvinteragency.org/recruit-heli.shtml
- https://www.nifc.gov/careers/blm-fire-job
- https://gacc.nifc.gov/gbcc/dispatch/id-bdc/aviation.php
- https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/fire-protection/aviation-program
- https://gacc.nifc.gov/rmcc/dispatch_centers/r2rwc/Dispatch%20Logistics/Aviation_folder/AviationPlans/HelibaseOpsPlan_website.pdf
- https://www.gooselake.com/lkvhelitack/
- https://ffsl.utah.gov/fire/forestry-fire-and-state-lands-expands-wildfire-aviation-program/
- https://www.instagram.com/saltlakehelitack/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Wildfire/comments/avm41k/usfs_helitack_crews_bases_locations/
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/about-forest/?cid=fseprd494496
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=fsbdev3_053629
- https://www.blm.gov/blog/2021-09-15/fire-management-feature-arizonas-moki-and-weaver-mountain-helitack-modules
- https://www.blm.gov/site-page/programs-public-safety-and-fire-fire-and-aviation-regional-information-montana
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/htnf/fire/?cid=FSEPRD574806
- http://www.themonumenthelitack.com/history.html
- http://www.themonumenthelitack.com
- https://wildfiretoday.com/2010/06/25/new-keenwild-helibase-opens/
- https://www.centraloregonrappellers.com
- https://www.granderonderappellers.com
- https://www.malheurrappelcrew.com
- http://siskiyourappellers.com
- http://www.plumashelitack512.com/p/operations_30.html
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/tahoe/home/?cid=fseprd838779#Temporary%20Fire%20Positions
- https://www.facebook.com/helicopter532/
- https://www.instagram.com/happycamphelitack/
- https://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/generalservices/page/scott-valley-airport-a30
- https://www.facebook.com/helicopter510/
- https://www.firehouse.com/operations-training/wildland/news/21229386/cal-fire-debuts-24m-helicopter-with-night-firefighting-ability
- https://www.flickr.com/photos/189624818@N07/albums/72177720318979483/with/53870061924
- https://rvcfire.org/our-departments/operational-support/hraab
- https://ceqanet.opr.ca.gov/2023010009
- https://wildrivers.lostcoastoutpost.com/2022/jul/25/calfires-humboldt-del-norte-unit-expands-its-firef/
- https://files.ceqanet.opr.ca.gov/290637-1/attachment/9xbi7tYWvNR0DholZtDYZtA0NZkupfww5EfgkehTvQU3KKZA4jFRhKAccOeDiN6hJucOLTcoQVIasgmO0
- https://ceqanet.opr.ca.gov/2020100055/3
- https://files.ceqanet.opr.ca.gov/265033-3/attachment/E2iP8WHf6LidiMprXSPkD0QOUVKLnb94wZQ45C58MdI67ywcJHDIMq4wMnmzEEh1_cJFTkKn3nWpFzDM0
- https://www.appeal-democrat.com/corning_observer/old-vina-helitack-demolished-to-make-room-for-new-facility/article_9dd331c8-4e75-11e8-8fce-dbfeef59b96e.html
- https://wildlandfirejobs.com/3-wicked-awesome-places-to-be-on-a-helitack-crew/
- https://www.nps.gov/grca/getinvolved/heli_program.htm
- https://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/helicopter-552.htm
- https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/caec5504-ff30-4a90-b97e-d46e0213f1ac
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/eldorado/fire/?cid=fseprd596289
- https://zionhelitack.blogspot.com/2008/01/having-fun-at-base.html
- https://gacc.nifc.gov/nrcc/dc/mtkic/Aviation/helitack/Helitack_Webpage/index.htm
- https://www.paysonroundup.com/news/gila_county/helibase-opens-on-payson-ranger-district/article_353aa141-7dec-52f0-aa80-f823ce65b309.html
- https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/gila-national-forest-provides-tour-of-supply-cache-and-aerial-fire-base
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/santafe/fire/?cid=fseprd542743
- https://ourairports.com/airports/US-3916/
- https://www.dnr.wa.gov/publications/rp_fire_helitackhistory.pdf?aoykm5
- https://ceqanet.opr.ca.gov/2020110321/2
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/payette/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=fsm9_030948
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/ipnf/fire/?cid=fseprd610489
- https://salmonhelirappellers.com/about
- https://www.facebook.com/SwanValleyHelitack/
- https://www.facebook.com/Gvillehelitack/
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/kootenai/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=stelprdb5253771
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/bitterroot/about-forest/jobs/?cid=fseprd665561
- https://www.montanarightnow.com/montana/dnrc-helitack-teams-attack-fires-before-theyre-on-montanas-radar/article_14a0807e-4bce-11ef-bfb1-3f6844b7a700.html
- https://wildfiretoday.com/2011/08/06/wildfire-helicopters-at-custer-helitack/
- https://www.williamsnews.com/news/getting-the-drop-on-wildfires-kaibab-forest-helitack-gets-a-jump-on-wildfire-season/article_c96a0ae8-7a20-5c23-9c59-609fdc575276.html
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/blackhills/fire/?cid=fseprd575200
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/lolo/fire
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/r9/home/?cid=fseprd1127652
- https://www.alaskaasp.com/media/4453/firefighting_fact_sheet_hi-res.pdf
- https://akfireinfo.com/2024/07/03/dof-firefighters-are-responding-to-a-new-fire-north-of-fairbanks-along-the-chatanika-river/
- https://akfireinfo.com/2024/07/01/three-new-fires-sunday-in-dof-northern-region/
- https://www.facebook.com/AK.Forestry/posts/4190438634352729/
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/asnf/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD584364
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/cleveland/home/?cid=fsbdev3_053629
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/inside-fs/delivering-mission/sustain/short-haul-lifts-mission-capabilities-higher-plane
- https://gacc.nifc.gov/gbcc/dispatch/ut-cdc/aviation/docs/Color%20Country%20Aircrew%20Orientation%20Guide.pdf
- https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/short-haul-operations-a-specialty-of-mesa-verde-helitack/
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/hlcnf/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1201890
- https://www.siskiyoudaily.com/story/news/2010/07/12/scott-valley-to-have-new/49507482007/
- http://chuchupatehelitack.weebly.com/history.html
- https://gacc.nifc.gov/gbcc/dispatch/ut-mfc/Aviation/PilotOrientationGuide.pdf
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/stnf/fire/?cid=fseprd599721
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/prescott/home/?cid=stelprdb5343099
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sawtooth_National_Forest
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/stanislaus/landmanagement/?cid=fseprd532902
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd521239.pdf
- https://www.instagram.com/montrosehelitack/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_forests_of_the_United_States
https://panethos.wordpress.com/2024/09/27/wildfire-helitack-bases-in-the-united-states/
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Bill Rhodes