CAL FIRE Vina Helitack Base is in the community of Vina and has been an operational Helitack base since 1974. In 2018, the base was demolished and rebuilt with updated infrastructure necessary for the future growth of the aviation program. The new facility includes a larger hangar to accommodate the new CAL FIRE “Hawk” (Blackhawk helicopter), a new barracks with capacity to sleep 22 personnel, an equipment apparatus bay, training tower, bulk fueling areas and solar power to increase efficiency.

CAL FIRE has replaced its entire fleet of Vietnam era Huey helicopters and in the summer of 2020 Vina was the first in the State of California to take delivery of the new Blackhawk. Vina Helitack recently transitioned to 365 days a year 24 hour operation with the introduction of the night vision goggle (NVG) program. Vina Helitack responds to a wide variety of emergency and non-emergency calls throughout the state including wildland fires, hoist rescues, medivac operations, mapping, reconnaissance, and search and rescue. Vina Helitack currently responds in the initial attack to wildland fires in Shasta, Tehama, and Butte counties with response to neighboring counties throughout the state as the need arises.