FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2026
Latisha Townsend – Communications Director, Supervisor Foley
(714) 559-8364 | Latisha.Townsend@ocgov.com
OC Vice Chair Katrina Foley, OC Fire Authority, and San Clemente Leaders Break Ground on New Wildfire Response HeloPod
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA – Today, Orange County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair and Orange County Fire Authority Director Katrina Foley joined Orange County Fire Authority leadership, City of San Clemente officials, and community representatives to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new HeloPod wildfire suppression system based in San Clemente – made possible by a $100,000 through a Fifth District discretionary grant to OC Fire Authority.
“Last summer, we witnessed the return on our investment when the county-funded HeloPod based in Aliso Viejo helped fire suppression teams to quickly contain vegetation fires in Laguna Beach and Laguna Niguel,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “This HeloPod in San Clemente increases our HeloPods to four from Laguna Beach to San Clemente, strengthens Orange County’s wildfire resilience, expands critical public safety infrastructure, and prepares our communities to respond to another unpredictable fire season.”
Vice Chair Foley continued, “The new HeloPod holds 3775 gallons of water, supporting firefighters with faster access to water, improve rapid initial attack operations, and provide stronger protection against wildfire threats for San Clemente and surrounding neighborhoods, as well as in the open space in these high wildfire risk zones.”
Supervisor Foley and Interim Chief TJ McGovern
OCFA: Assistant Chief of Corporate Communications Matt Olson, Division Fire Chief Cheyne Maule, Supervisor Foley and Captain Greg Barta
San Clemente Mayor and Council Members, OC Fire Authority, and San Clemente community members
Additional HeloPod Features
- Solar-powered and automatically refilling water system
- Supports faster aerial firefighting and rapid initial attack operations
- Enhances wildfire protection for San Clemente and neighboring communities
- Additional units based in Aliso Viejo and near Ortega Highway
- Dimensions: 6.5 ft x 8 ft x 16 ft
- Capacity: 3,775 gallons of water
* A summer press conference with hover-filling and water-dropping demonstrations is scheduled for June 2026.
###
Vice Chair Katrina Foley was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2022 to represent the newly established District 5, which includes the cities of Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, a large portion of Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, as well as the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Rancho Mission Viejo, Stonecliffe and Wagon Wheel. This is her second term on the Board of Supervisors, where she previously served District 2.
Vice Chair Foley’s 2026 Board appointments include:
Chair – Orange County Housing Finance Trust
Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA)
Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA)
Orange County Audit Oversight Committee
OC Public Libraries Advisory Board
Newport Bay and South Orange County Watershed Executive Committees
Transportation Corridor Agency - Foothill/Eastern
Transportation Corridor Agency - San Joaquin Hills
Coastal Greenbelt Authority
Urban Counties Caucus
