Legacy Forged in Fire
The genesis of the FireFlight program is inextricably linked to the harrowing wildfire season of 1998. That summer, Flagler and its neighboring counties were engulfed in infernos that scorched over 234,000 acres, destroyed 71 homes in Flagler County alone, and led to the unprecedented countywide evacuation of all 45,000 residents. Additionally, the blazes caused more than $300 million in timber losses. The experience was a stark and terrifying wake-up call, highlighting the critical need for a dedicated local aerial resource capable of rapid fire attack and containment.
48 May/June 2025
In response, Flagler County invested in its future. In 2002, with landfill bond money specifically designated for fire suppression, the county purchased a used Airbus AS350 B3 AStar helicopter (serial number 2968). This robust single-engine light utility helicopter, the first B3 model helicopter to be used in North America, became the inaugural FireFlight. Its acquisition marked a pivotal shift in the county’s emergency preparedness, moving it from a reactive to proactive stance.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92
