That helicopter over Fairview Park is a firefighting drill

An Orange County Fire Authority helicopter will be flying over Fairview Park this week and next as part of a drill with Costa Mesa firefighters.

Crews will train along the park’s bluffs near the end of Pacific Avenue between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Sept. 3, according to the city.

The firefighters will practice setting up a refill point for the water-dropping helicopter, Battalion Chief Bill Kershaw said.

“Rather than having a helicopter dip from a static water source, they’ll be filling it up with a hose,” he said.

Kershaw said the helicopter will be dropping water, but he was unsure of the drop location.

Costa Mesa firefighters last practiced the technique about two years ago, Kershaw said.

A recent rash of blazes in and near Fairview Park helped spur the new training session, he said. There have been five fires this year in Fairview Park and nearby Talbert Regional Park. The most recent was Aug. 19.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck