Residents may be noticing increased aerial activity as helitack captain academy prepares aviation leaders for fire season
FOLSOM — Residents and visitors near Folsom Lake have reached out to Folsom Times on Saturday, inquiring about the sudden increase in aerial activity over Folsom Lake. Folsom Lake often serves as a training ground for area agencies and such is the case this weekend as the area is being used by the CAL FIRE Helitack Captain Academy, a specialized program designed to prepare aviation leaders for California’s upcoming wildfire season.
According to CAL FIRE officials, helicopters and airtankers will be operating over and around Folsom Lake throughout the training exercise, which runs Friday through Sunday. Aircraft activity is expected daily between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., with crews conducting a series of simulated wildfire response scenarios both in the air and on the ground.
While the operations may resemble real firefighting activity, officials emphasized that the exercise does not involve any active fires. Instead, simulated smoke and staged ground scenarios are used to replicate the conditions firefighters might encounter during a real emergency.
The training focuses on developing leadership and coordination skills for CAL FIRE fire captains who supervise helitack crews — specialized teams of firefighters transported by helicopter to rapidly reach wildfires, particularly in remote or difficult terrain. These aviation-based crews play a critical role in California’s wildfire response system, often serving as the first line of defense in containing fires before they grow larger.
During the academy, participants practice coordinating complex aerial operations that include deploying firefighters from helicopters, directing aircraft operations over simulated fire zones and managing communication between pilots, ground crews and incident command teams.
Folsom Lake provides an ideal training environment for these exercises due to its open water, surrounding terrain and proximity to key aviation resources in the Sacramento region. Helicopters frequently use large bodies of water such as Folsom Lake for bucket training, repeatedly dipping water from the lake and simulating drops over designated training areas.
Residents may see helicopters hovering low over the lake, aircraft flying repeated patterns or crews staging equipment along parts of the shoreline during the training period. Officials said these activities are part of realistic operational drills designed to prepare crews for the demanding conditions they face during California’s fire season.
All aviation operations are conducted under strict safety protocols and coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration. CAL FIRE officials say the training ensures that aviation supervisors are prepared to manage aircraft resources safely and efficiently during real wildfire incidents.
CAL FIRE operates one of the largest aerial firefighting fleets in the world, including helicopters, air tankers and fixed-wing aircraft stationed across the state to support rapid wildfire response. Aviation resources often play a key role during the initial attack phase of a wildfire, when rapid deployment can prevent small fires from growing into major incidents.
The Helitack Captain Academy is one of several training programs conducted annually to ensure CAL FIRE personnel remain prepared for the complex challenges of wildfire management. As California approaches the start of another potentially active fire season, exercises like this help ensure aviation leaders and crews are ready to respond quickly when fires ignite.
For residents around Folsom Lake this weekend, the sight of helicopters and firefighting aircraft may be unusual, but officials say the activity represents an important step in preparing crews who will protect communities throughout California during the months ahead.
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