The wildfire suppression toolkit just got bigger in the Eastern Sierra with the stationing of a CH-47D Chinook helicopter at Mammoth Yosemite Airport, just outside the ski resort town of Mammoth Lakes, California.
The exclusive-use helicopter comes equipped with a 2,800-gallon fixed water tank. According to a release shared by Cal Fire, it’ll support initial attack and extended wildfire suppression operations throughout the region.
The tank, the agency continued, means the helicopter can deliver large volumes of water to emerging fires, helping slow their growth and supporting firefighters on the ground.
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Cal Fire, Mammoth Yosemite Airport, and Mammoth Lakes partnered to secure the helicopter.
“The support provided by Mammoth Yosemite Airport and the Town of Mammoth Lakes has been instrumental in bringing this resource to the Eastern Sierra,” said Cal Fire officials in the release. “This partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to protecting residents, visitors, critical infrastructure, and the region’s natural resources.”
Among skiers, Mammoth Lakes is best known for its accompanying ski resort, Mammoth Mountain. This year, the late-season hotspot plans to stay open until June 7 after a few season extensions, offering slushy turns under the sun. That makes Mammoth Mountain one of the only places on the continent still open for lift-served skiing.
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But like many other mountain destinations, the Mammoth Lakes community is also no stranger to fire. Last fall, the Pack Fire torched nearly 2,000 acres in Mono County, destroying several structures and prompting an emergency declaration from the governor’s office.
Elsewhere across the West, fires have threatened or burned through well-known ski resorts in recent years. In August 2025, the Rock Fire cut close to Idaho’s Tamarack Resort. And back in 2021, the Caldor Fire infamously affected 1,600 of Sierra-at-Tahoe’s 2,000 acres.
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