27 Mar 2008 | Ref. 102/2008
SAN DIEGO – BAE Systems has donated $15,000 to the San Diego Foundation Wildfire Fund toward the purchase of a second firefighting helicopter.
The fund seeks to obtain $1 million, largely from corporate donors, to help pay for and operate Fire-Rescue Copter 2. The city currently operates Copter 1, which was the only unit that flew during the first two days of last October’s Witch Creek wildfires. San Diego fire Chief Tracy Jarman plans to have Copter 2 operational weeks before wildfire season peaks in the fall.
“Copter 1 was worth its weight in gold during the Witch Creek fires,” Jarman said. “The new helicopter will further bolster our emergency response capabilities. In conjunction with ground forces, the use of helicopters has proven to be the most effective method to control wildfires in our wildland urban interface.”
Bill Ballhaus, president of network systems for BAE Systems, presented the donation to Jarman. BAE Systems has a facility in Rancho Bernardo, where 365 homes were destroyed during the first two days of the Witch Creek fires.
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is the premier global defense and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 97,500 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £15.7 billion (US $31.4 billion) in 2007.
For more information, please contact:
Despina Froumis, BAE Systems
Tel: +1 858 675 2845 Mobile: +1 858 342 8709
despina.froumis@baesystems.com
Shannon Smith, BAE Systems
Tel: +1 703 907 8257 Mobile: +1 703 967 3854
shannon.n.smith@baesystems.com
