OCFA Air Ops

OCFA Air Ops Official account of the Orange County Fire Authority Air Operations Section, 24hr Fire, Rescue, Emergency Medical service. Orange County, California

31/05/2026

We are proud to share that members of OCFA Air Operations were honored with the Special Operations Citation at the 2026 OCFA Best & Bravest Awards Ceremony.

Crew Chief Dan Tessieri, Pilot Kevin Barres, Rescue Medic Justin Creen, and Rescue Medic Jason Trevino were on duty when they responded to reports of multiple victims trapped in a fast-moving creek during severe storm conditions.

Facing heavy rain, strong winds, low cloud ceilings, poor visibility, and debris-filled floodwaters, the crew worked through extremely challenging conditions to locate and rescue two victims. Both were safely hoisted by OCFA Helicopter 3 and transferred to awaiting OCFA swift-water rescue personnel for continued care.

Their actions exemplify the highest standards of teamwork, skill, professionalism, and dedication to public safety. We are incredibly proud of their efforts and the entire team that contributed to this successful rescue.

Watch the video to see the incredible story behind this lifesaving mission. 🚁👏

28/05/2026

Yesterday, OCFA Air Operations and OCSD Air Support trained together on Fire Traffic Control Areas as we prepare for what is already shaping up to be a busy fire season.

A sincere thank you to for taking the time to fly in and train alongside us. Opportunities like this strengthen coordination, communication, and teamwork between agencies — all of which are critical to keeping both our crews and the public safe during complex incidents.

We also want to thank CAL FIRE Air Attack Captain Matt Meisenheimer for sharing his expertise and guiding us through valuable training scenarios. With years of experience and countless campaign fires under his belt, Captain Meisenheimer is a true subject matter expert in coordinating multiple air assets during fire incidents.

One team, ready to respond 24/7.

May be 4th be with you. Be safe Orange County…we have spoken.
05/05/2026

May be 4th be with you. Be safe Orange County…we have spoken.

01/05/2026

OCFA Air Operations takes training seriously.

We train to be proficient, precise, and efficient in our movements around aircraft. Small details matter—mistakes can be costly.

This training focused on insertion and extraction evolutions, running rep after rep until ex*****on becomes second nature.

When the community needs us, we’re ready—24/7, 365.

Fire season is here. 🔥The first fire of the season is a reminder of why we work hard year-round. Our pilots, mechanics, ...
06/04/2026

Fire season is here. 🔥
The first fire of the season is a reminder of why we work hard year-round. Our pilots, mechanics, crew chiefs, and helicopter rescuers put in the work long before fires start.

Here is a look of our ability to deliver 1,000 gallons of water per drop and to refill at a near by water source.

Day or night. Fire or rescue. We’re always ready

Photo/Video Cred 📸

Here are some incredible shots that were taken of Copter 2 on the .Photo Credit 📸 .ca_spotter
05/04/2026

Here are some incredible shots that were taken of Copter 2 on the .

Photo Credit 📸 .ca_spotter

30/03/2026

Behind every successful mission is hours of dedicated training. From shorthaul and tagged-bag extraction to capture techniques, our pilots, crew chiefs, and rescuers train relentlessly on every skill — so when it matters most, we’re ready

23/03/2026

Before a rescue hoist cable ever sees a real mission, it goes through a critical process we call “seasoning.”

When a new cable is put into service, our flight crews attach an approximate 500 lb load and repeatedly extend and retract the line. This ensures the cable is properly tensioned, aligned, and ready to perform when it matters most.

It’s all part of the behind-the-scenes work that keeps our crews mission-ready.

Day or night, 24/7 — we’re ready to respond when our community needs us most.

Yesterday we said farewell to Senior Fire Helicopter Technician John Wilson.John began his career in 2004 and has been a...
20/03/2026

Yesterday we said farewell to Senior Fire Helicopter Technician John Wilson.

John began his career in 2004 and has been a cornerstone of the OCFA Air Operations Section ever since. His dedication, integrity, attention to detail, and professionalism have left a lasting impact on everyone he worked with. And of course, his pickleball skills will be tough to replace.

John, thank you for your years of service and commitment. You will be truly missed. Wishing you all the best in your well-earned retirement.

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4011 W Commonwealth Ave

92833

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