Santa Barbara County Fire Department has received a check for $90,000 from local nonprofit One805. One805 raised the funds to expand the capability of the County Fire’s new 964 Firehawk helicopter to perform medevac operations.
The presentation by One805 CEO Eric Phillips to county Fire Chief Mark A. Hartwig, took place at the Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit in Santa Ynez.
The Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit (ASU) is a public safety aviation unit comprised of Santa Barbara County Fire Department and Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office employees. Numerous people have been rescued; missing people found; and fires quickly suppressed, thanks to these air resources.
The recent addition of the 964 Firehawk to the County Fire Department fleet has boosted the range, duration and capability of the Air Support Unit.
The funds, a portion of which were donated by Dr. Victoria Mann Simms and Ronald Simms, were raised in 2022 and earmarked for the Firehawk.
“One805 is constantly looking to provide support to our first responders by providing equipment they are not easily able to fund through normal budget channels,” said Kirsten Cavendish Weston Smith, One805 co-founder and Executive Board member.
“This conversion kit will directly save lives, countywide, and add to the already versatile mix of operations the Firehawk is able to perform,” she said.
For more on how to donate to emergency responders in the Operational Area, visit www.one805.org.