A PG&E Blackhawk helicopter is stationed at the Butte County Fire Department's Chico Air Attack Base for the 2026 wildfire season. The aircraft will support initial wildfire response efforts in Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Plumas, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba counties through California's Master Mutual Aid system. Photo courtesy of PG&E

CHICO, CA (MPG) - Residents across Butte, Colusa, Yuba and Sutter counties will have expanded aerial wildfire protection this fire season as Pacific Gas and Electric Co. continues its firefighting helicopter program and extends coverage to additional Northern California counties.

For the third consecutive year, PG&E is partnering with local fire agencies to station dedicated Blackhawk firefighting helicopters in key locations throughout the state. This year, the program expands beyond Butte County to include neighboring Colusa, Glenn, Plumas, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba counties.

A PG&E Blackhawk helicopter equipped for water drops is stationed at the Butte County Fire Department's Chico Air Attack Base through Nov. 15. While based in Chico, the aircraft can quickly respond to wildfires throughout the surrounding region under California's Master Mutual Aid system.

The program launched in Marin County in 2023 before expanding to Butte and Merced counties. It is designed to strengthen initial attack efforts by placing dedicated aerial firefighting resources under the direction of local fire agencies during California's peak wildfire season.

The Chico-based helicopter has already been called into action this year, dropping water on the Pentz Fire in Paradise and the Lone Fire in Palermo on June 26.

Since the program began, PG&E-supported helicopters have logged more than 445 flight hours, completed more than 2,600 water drops, released more than 2 million gallons of water and supported more than 60 initial wildfire attacks.

The program includes four Blackhawk helicopters operating through Nov. 15. Three aircraft are assigned to participating regions while a fourth serves as a standby aircraft if needed. Local fire agencies direct the helicopters during wildfire suppression operations.

PG&E said the helicopter program is one part of its broader wildfire mitigation strategy, which also includes undergrounding power lines, Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings, Public Safety Power Shutoffs, AI-enabled wildfire cameras and other wildfire prevention measures.