"It's a war": California turns to new, high-tech helicopters to battle wildfires

Bill Whitaker reports on the largest helicopter to ever fight fires at night, now being used in California as the state faces one of its most intense fire years ever.California is burning — on track for the most savage fire year in its history. Drought and scorching temperatures have turbocharged fires that are more extreme than ever. Two of the biggest fires in state history have laid siege to more than a million acres in Northern California, burning dangerously close to Lake Tahoe. Firefighters haven't had a day off in months. Fire chiefs warn there aren't enough aircraft to go around. "It's a war," one told us. Now, fire chiefs from Southern California have stolen a page from the military: take the fight to the night. A new fleet of hi-tech helicopters will fight wildfires 24/7. And for the first time, the giant Chinook — you've seen them in other war zones — will lead the night assault. It's an $18 million pilot program the fire chiefs hope will be a game changer.

The U.S. Forest Service was already short-staffed when the Caldor Fire exploded last month, churning toward South Lake Tahoe. Thousands of residents were forced to flee. To the north, the Dixie Fire has been rampaging for months, demolishing historic gold rush towns. The drought-parched forests burn so hot they generate their own fire tornados. Between the two infernos, more than 8,000 bone-weary firefighters have been waging a relentless battle. Orange County Fire Chief Brian Fennessy — a former Hotshot who's been fighting fires in Southern California for 44 years — told us there is no more give in the system.Brian Fennessy: These fires get so large that there aren't enough firefighters, aren't enough airplanes, helicopters, bulldozers.

Bill Whitaker: I would think that would be worrisome .

Brian Fennessy: You know, we're to the point where if we were to send much more, we're going to have firehouses that are empty. And for the people that we've sworn to serve, you know, our taxpayers, it's not acceptable to have firehouses empty for any length of time. 

Bill Whitaker: Everything is stretched to the limit.

Brian Fennessy: Everything is stretched. 

We met Brian Fennessy at the Truckee Airfield, about 45 miles from the fires. After Caldor destroyed the town of Grizzly Flats, Fennessy volunteered to send his new  firefighting choppers north. More like flying computers with rotors on top, they're called the Quick Reaction Force. Fennessy calls the fleet, "The Hammer."

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