The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is expected to approve a contract Tuesday to maintain the county’s fleet of firefighting helicopters for up to six years.

Supervisors are set to discuss a $4.2 million contract to maintain and repair the county’s Sikorsky Firehawk Helicopter fleet during the Dec. 9 meeting in Downtown L.A., according to the meeting’s agenda.

The contract between the Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los Angeles County and Helicopter Support Inc. is initially for three years, with two one-year extensions, and an additional twelve month-to-month extensions.

The yearly amount paid to rent the helicopters will not exceed $700,000 and the contract will last no more than six years, according to a letter from Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby to the board of supervisors in advance of the vote Tuesday.

Fire officials previously asked the county in back July of 2017 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, which includes Santa Clarita. “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, will not be allowed 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, which was another option discussed, would be too costly.

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