The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday authorized the Riverside County Flood Control & Water Conservation District to increase funding by almost 50% to construct so-called “heli-hydrants” for Cal Fire water-dropping helicopters in Eastvale and Jurupa Valley.
In a 4-0 vote without comment — during which Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez was absent — on Tuesday, the board signed off on the district’s plan to augment outlays for the “Heli-Hydrant Fire Protection System Phase 2 Project” from $513,000 to a total $754,000.
According to documents posted to the board’s agenda, following solicitation of bids from contractors to complete the work, the “total cost of the project increased beyond the amount originally contemplated.”
The Flood Control & Water Conservation District partnered with the Jurupa Community Services District in 2024 to initiate the protection system project, which will rely on water supplies managed by JCSD to feed open water tanks containing up to 10,000 gallons each.
“This will provide supplemental water resources for Cal Fire (rotor craft) during wildfire response in fire-prone areas … in Riverside County,” according to Flood Control & Water Conservation District documents.
JCSD personnel will be responsible for maintaining the tanks after they’re constructed.
The sites designated for the new supply systems are at the intersection of Bain Street and Limonite Avenue, along the north side of the Santa Ana River bottom in Jurupa Valley; near Citrus Street and Hamner Avenue in Eastvale; and just east of the Oak Quarry Golf Club, near McLaren Lane and Sandra Drive, at the northern edge of Jurupa Valley.
There was no indication of when the projects may be completed.
