San Diego Approves Second Fire Copter

San Diego's city council voted unanimously yesterday to buy a second firefighting helicopter for the city Fire-Rescue Dept. Fire officials expect the helicopter to be in service before seasonal Santa Ana winds begin in August and  increase the risk of large-scale wildfires. The department currently operates a Bell Helicopter 212, dubbed Copter 1, around the clock from the city's Montgomery Field general aviation airport. The second bird, Copter 2, would help cover 331 sq mi, that is, all of the city and the county of San Diego. The city council approved spending $16 million for the new aircraft, which would be acquired under a 15-year lease-purchase agreement. For related news