The Butte County Fire Department received approval by the Board of Supervisors to enter into an agreement with PG&E to call upon a wildfire suppression helicopter when required. The helicopter is contracted between PG&E and PJ Helicopters.

Within the terms of the agreement PG&E would cover the costs of the first two flight hours without a charge to the county, but from then after the cost to Butte County Fire Department would be $9,500 per hour. The terms of the agreement also stipulate that the helicopter cannot exceed 40 flight hours and PG&E will provide the pilots and mechanical support at no additional costs.

The UH-60A, with a 1,000-gallon water tank, will be stationed at the Chico Regional Airport and dispatched through the Butte County Fire Department. The department will be able to use the helicopter throughout the county service area but not outside of the county and not via requests from federal agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service.