- September 13, 2024
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After 22 years of service in the county, FireFlight was decommissioned in a ceremony on Aug. 21. Courtesy of Flagler County
After 22 years of service in the county, FireFlight was decommissioned in a ceremony on Aug. 21. Courtesy of Flagler County
After 22 years of service in the county, FireFlight was decommissioned in a ceremony on Aug. 21. Courtesy of Flagler County
After 22 years of service in the county, FireFlight was decommissioned in a ceremony on Aug. 21. Courtesy of Flagler County
Flagler County welcomed its new FireFlight helicopter in a ceremony on Aug. 21 as the previous, 22-year-old FireFlight was decommissioned.
The FireFlight model 2968 — which has served the county since 2002 in wildfire suppression missions, as a trauma transport in a myriad of reconnaissance and rescue missions — was decommissioned in a ceremony at the Flagler Executive Airport as its replacement model was christened the county's new FireFlight. The new FireFlight helicopter is an Airbus model H125, according to a Facebook post from Flagler County.
Representatives from Flagler County's municipalities and other first responders attended the ceremony, the post said.
"We are not in the business of guarantees...but we are in the business of giving people [fighting] chances," Flagler County Fire Chief Michael Tucker said.
Over the 22 years, FireFlight 2968 has: transported 797 patients to trauma centers, served on 851 wildfire suppression missions, dumped over 2 million gallons of water, helped on 282 search and rescue missions and 2,452 storm reconnaissance missions and supported 764 law enforcement missions.
For 20 years, the FireFlight team was lead by pilot Dana Morris, who retired in November 2022. According to the county's website, FireFlight is "the first line of defense against wildfires" in Flagler County.
According to the Airbus website, the H125 model of the helicopter can reach speeds over 150 mph and can seat seven on board, including the pilots.
