Rancho Water Installed Helicopter Dip Tanks to Strengthen Wildfire Response by Rancho Water Oct 8, 2026 Member Submitted News Rancho California Water District (Rancho Water/District) has completed the installation of two new helicopter dip tanks designed to strengthen wildfire response capabilities and support firefighting agencies throughout the region. The new dip tanks will provide firefighters with dedicated, reliable water sources to support wildfire response in the De Luz, La Cresta, and Santa Rosa Plateau communities. The project was made possible through $500,000 in funding from Riverside County’s Unincorporated Communities Initiative, championed by Third District Supervisor Chuck Washington. Rancho Water worked closely with CAL FIRE to identify strategic locations that would provide the greatest benefit to firefighting operations and ensure the facilities could be effectively accessed by firefighting helicopters. “Wildfire preparedness is a shared responsibility, and these helicopter dip tanks are a great example of what we can accomplish when local agencies work together,” said Jason Martin, Rancho Water General Manager. “We are grateful to our partners at Riverside County and CAL FIRE for working with us to provide these life-saving new firefighting assets. By bringing water resources and emergency response partners together, we are helping our communities be better prepared when wildfire strikes.” For rural communities, having a water source closer to an active wildfire can help reduce the time helicopters spend traveling to refill. That can allow firefighting aircraft to return to an incident more quickly and make additional water drops during critical stages of a fire. The dip tanks are equipped with a remote fill trigger which can allow a helicopter pilot to begin filling the tank from the adjacent reservoir while the helicopter is enroute during an active fire. The new facilities are intended to serve as a regional resource, supporting all firefighting agencies in the area and strengthening the collective emergency response capabilities of local communities. The project reflects an ongoing collaboration among Rancho Water, Riverside County, CAL FIRE, and local governments to invest in infrastructure that enhances regional resilience and supports first responders. “Rancho Water is proud to bring our water infrastructure and resources to the table as a regional partner,” Martin said. “We are honored to play a role in helping make our communities safer and more resilient.” Community Open House The public will have an opportunity to view one of the new helicopter dip tanks during a community open house on Tuesday, October 13, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Avocado Mesa Reservoir located at 19265 Avocado Mesa Road, Murrieta. The open house is free and available to the public and will provide residents with an opportunity to see the new dip tank in person and learn more about its role in supporting regional wildfire response. Rancho Water hosted a private ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, October 7, attended by local elected officials, fire officials, community representatives, and regional partners. B-Roll and Photos from the Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony: https://we.tl/t-3mwW0Hn8bfeWHDwU For more information about Rancho Water and its projects, visit RanchoWater.com.
