The proposed helicopter water tank near La Jolla Scenic Drive North faces a site-design issue before questions of construction can be resolved: the location contains one large and nine smaller Torrey pines, as well as streetlights and power lines that officials say would need to be addressed. A 12-inch water main is also being installed nearby. The San Diego Municipal Code bars cutting, injuring or destroying protected Torrey pines on public land under § 63.07, according to the City of San Diego’s municipal code.
What tree protections could mean
According to the City of San Diego, Council Policy 900-19 protects designated tree resources in public rights-of-way, city-owned open space, parks and other publicly owned lands wherever practical. That policy provides the broader city framework for considering the Torrey pines alongside the proposed public-safety project. For city right-of-way trees, the City of San Diego says only dead trees or those deemed an immediate safety issue are removed as soon as possible; other requests are evaluated for preservation or removal under Council Policy 200-5, according to the city’s tree-maintenance guidance. The available guidance does not establish that the proposed tank has received approval to prune, relocate or remove any trees.
The proposal is intended to solve a logistical problem for San Diego Fire-Rescue aircraft serving Mount Soledad, La Jolla and South Clairemont. Helicopters currently return to Montgomery Field for a ground refill because they generally cannot take water from the ocean; saltwater can corrode components and damage engines, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Fire-Rescue Operations Chief John Brubaker said the trip produces an approximately 15-minute turnaround, including two to three minutes for filling and about six minutes of travel in each direction.
A closer refill point
A temporary or permanent reservoir holding about 7,000 to 9,000 gallons could let the aircraft take on water without returning to the airfield. The department’s two smaller helicopters carry 300 gallons apiece, while Copter 3, a Sikorsky S-70i Firehawk, can carry 1,000 gallons, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Foundation. The foundation says the Firehawk can refill in about 45 seconds using a water source suitable for its snorkel system. The department purchased the aircraft in late 2019 for $19.8 million, according to KUSI.
Brubaker said Fire-Rescue has recognized the need for a nearby freshwater source since 2003. The department’s stated rationale is that reducing refill time could give aircraft more opportunity to attack a wildfire while ground crews are still able to contain it.
How the location emerged
Fire-Rescue examined more than 40 possible locations over six months, then focused on La Jolla Scenic Drive North, La Jolla Country Club Drive and an area above Kate Sessions Park. The Union-Tribune reported that pilots favored Scenic Drive North after an aerial review found about 100 feet of operating clearance and a slope that supports a downhill departure into the wind.
Officials presented the concept during the La Jolla Town Council’s Sept. 10 meeting at the La Valencia Hotel. The plan remains preliminary and would require more study, permits, public funding and community support. Brubaker told the council that residents should discuss the proposal before the department decides whether any of the locations can be developed, according to the Union-Tribune. The proposal is scheduled to go next to the La Jolla Shores Association and the La Jolla Traffic & Transportation Board.
Existing neighborhood preparedness
The proposed tank would be considered alongside other local wildfire-preparedness work. The La Jolla Fire Safe Council was established on April 2, 2025, through a collaboration involving the La Jolla Town Council, residents and San Diego Fire-Rescue leadership, according to the La Jolla Town Council. In August 2025, the council and Fire-Rescue officials conducted home-risk assessments in Coromandel, Windemere and La Jolla Farms.
