With the largest civilian Chinook fleet and decades of operational experience, Billings Flying Service (BFS) is the proven choice for global aerial firefighting contracts.
Billings, MT
West, Midwest, and International
Chinooks with 2,500-gallon tanks for sustained suppression, day or night.
Precision external load placement, even in remote and challenging terrain.
Heavy-lift aviation that moves equipment where roads can't.
Rapid response when communities need it most.
CAL FIRE
Los Angeles, California
The Palisades Fire began on January 7, 2025, in the Santa Monica Mountains of Los Angeles County. Driven by strong Santa Ana winds, it spread rapidly through urban-interface terrain, ultimately destroying thousands of structures and causing 12 fatalities in Pacific Palisades and surrounding neighborhoods. The fire was part of the broader Southern California wildfire complex and prompted large-scale evacuations and extensive multi-agency firefighting efforts.
Billings Flying Service deployed four CH-47 heavy-lift helicopters to support aerial suppression operations, coordinating water and retardant delivery with CAL FIRE and local agencies. Collectively, BFS aircraft delivered more than 500,000 gallons in support of suppression missions.
BFS executed sustained aerial suppression missions under severe wind and weather conditions, integrating with multi-agency response teams to slow fire progression and defend critical infrastructure and nearby communities.