County officials approved about $30 million Tuesday to help firefighters during one of the worst fire seasons in recent memory.

Fire officials asked the county to spend about $30 million for the purchase two Sikorsky S70i Black Hawk helicopters, which were considered the most effective firefighting and multi-mission capable aircraft available, according to a county report. The motion passed unanimously.

“The important thing to remember is that the county is prepared to fight fire,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents the 5th District, “but we want to make sure our aerial operations are always top of the line and ready to put out fires at a moment’s notice — and that’s what today’s action will accomplish.”

All of the Fire Department’s airships rotate throughout the county.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department has been operating the craft since 2000, the report noted.

In addition to one of the hottest summers in recent memory, the need for the firefighting helicopters has been exacerbated by an August 2015 crash, which reduced the Fire Department’s fleet to eight helicopters: three Sikorskys and five Bell 412 helicopters.

Shortly before Supervisor Michael Antonovich termed out, a report presented on aerial need for firefighting capabilities noted the need to increase the district’s wildland response and aerial firefighting capabilities by enhancing the fleet and staffing up to five S70 Fire Hawk helicopters on high fire hazard days.

The purchase of the two Helicopters, including tax, has a total cost not to exceed $29.43 million. These costs will be funded by a combination of Helicopter ACO Fund ($8.10 million) and LAC-CAL equipment financing ($21.33 million).

The recommendations also determined that purchasing a CL-415 SuperScooper would be too costly, which was another option discussed earlier.