The training event took place from afternoon to evening, with night vision flight exercises concluding by midnight. Residents near the Sacramento River and Vail Lake may see and hear low-flying helicopters during the training. The exercise included Cal Fire Helitack crews and contract helicopters, and was designed to help pilots and firefighting crews practice nighttime water drops and aerial supervision techniques.
not specified
Cal Fire Conducts Final Night Aerial Firefighting Training Exercise
Cal Fire conducted its final scheduled Night Aerial Firefighting Exercise of the year on June 17, 2026, at two locations in California, including Shasta County and Southern California.
Image/source material from KRCR Local.
Key Details
- Location: Shasta County (Sacramento River) and Southern California (Vail Lake)
- Date/time: Wednesday, June 17, 2026, afternoon to midnight
- Agencies involved: Cal Fire, FAA
- Status: Completed
- Public impact: Residents may see and hear low-flying helicopters during the training
Cal Fire
FAA
Night Aerial Firefighting
Helicopter Training
Wildfire Operations
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