By County Communications, County of San Diego Communications Office
Jul. 21, 2026 | 11:15 AM
Reading Time: < 1 minute
San Diego County Fire, CAL FIRE, County leaders and hundreds of community members gathered Monday at the Ramona Airport to celebrate the grand reopening of the Ramona Air Attack Base. The event highlighted airport improvements and the addition of new aircraft to protect communities across San Diego County.
CAL FIRE San Diego Unit Chief Tony Mecham explained how the upgrades make aerial firefighting more effective. A Firehawk night-flying helicopter has been added to the base along with a C-130 Hercules large airtanker capable of carrying 4,000 gallons of fire retardant.
The base upgrades also include new tanks for mixing retardant and a system that quickly delivers the retardant mixture directly to aircraft on the flight line.
Residents should always be prepared for emergencies.
