Post by Ykato on Sept 13, 2012 19:01:01 GMT 12
Chinook helicopter broken into at Ukiah airport
A Chinook helicopter helping to battle local fires for more than two weeks was broken into Sunday night while parked at the Ukiah Municipal Airport, according to the U.S. Army National Guard.
"This is very frustrating," said Col. Lou Carmona, explaining that the CH-47 helicopter was parked at what he believed was a "secure helibase" when someone broke into it, causing damage and stealing several thousand dollars worth of equipment.
"I am really disappointed," Carmona continued, adding that he "wrote so many memos" to keep the helicopter in California "strictly for firefighting." He said there are 12 such helicopters in California and the rest are being used for operations in Afghanistan.
Carmona said the helicopter here is based out of Stockton and has been aiding firefighting efforts in the area for the past 12 days, helping drop water on the North Pass Fire in Covelo and more recently the Scotts Fire east of Ukiah in Lake County.
"It took a lot of work to get this thing in here, and then to have it broken into and equipment stolen, I'm really pissed off," Carmona continued, describing the equipment as a satellite phone, an aviation GPS unit and various tools. "I would love to see the person who did this caught."
Carmona said the helicopter was grounded for repairs and will remain at the airport for a "couple more days while we make the repairs."
He said the Army National Guard believed the helicopter was stored in a "secure helibase with roving security,"
and therefore did not "set up a perimeter of armed guards around it at night."
Ukiah Police Department Capt. Justin Wyatt confirmed a helicopter was broken into at the airport Sunday night but had no further details. Anyone with information can call the UPD at 463-6262.
www.willitsnews.com/ci_21509577/chinook-helicopter-broken-into-at-ukiah-airport
A Chinook helicopter helping to battle local fires for more than two weeks was broken into Sunday night while parked at the Ukiah Municipal Airport, according to the U.S. Army National Guard.
"This is very frustrating," said Col. Lou Carmona, explaining that the CH-47 helicopter was parked at what he believed was a "secure helibase" when someone broke into it, causing damage and stealing several thousand dollars worth of equipment.
"I am really disappointed," Carmona continued, adding that he "wrote so many memos" to keep the helicopter in California "strictly for firefighting." He said there are 12 such helicopters in California and the rest are being used for operations in Afghanistan.
Carmona said the helicopter here is based out of Stockton and has been aiding firefighting efforts in the area for the past 12 days, helping drop water on the North Pass Fire in Covelo and more recently the Scotts Fire east of Ukiah in Lake County.
"It took a lot of work to get this thing in here, and then to have it broken into and equipment stolen, I'm really pissed off," Carmona continued, describing the equipment as a satellite phone, an aviation GPS unit and various tools. "I would love to see the person who did this caught."
Carmona said the helicopter was grounded for repairs and will remain at the airport for a "couple more days while we make the repairs."
He said the Army National Guard believed the helicopter was stored in a "secure helibase with roving security,"
and therefore did not "set up a perimeter of armed guards around it at night."
Ukiah Police Department Capt. Justin Wyatt confirmed a helicopter was broken into at the airport Sunday night but had no further details. Anyone with information can call the UPD at 463-6262.
www.willitsnews.com/ci_21509577/chinook-helicopter-broken-into-at-ukiah-airport