07-20-26 Ramona Air Attack Base Grand Re-Opening

The County of San Diego held a grand re-opening ceremony on July 20, 2026, for the Ramona Air Attack Base, a critical facility for aerial firefighting operations. The event featured speeches from Cal Fire leadership, county supervisors, and other officials highlighting the significant investments made in upgrading the base's infrastructure, including new retardant mixing plants, expanded aircraft parking and reloading pits, and plans for a 14-person barracks to support 24-hour operations. The base now supports a fleet including C-130 air tankers, S2 air tankers, and Firehawk helicopters, enhancing rapid initial attack firefighting capabilities in the region. The speakers emphasized the collaborative efforts and funding from state and county governments, federal partners, and private contractors to maintain and expand aerial firefighting resources, which have proven vital in recent wildfire responses such as the Thorne Fire. While no specific contract awards or procurement actions were detailed, the discussion underscored ongoing capital improvement projects and operational enhancements funded by public investment.