Rancho California Water District will let the public see two newly installed helicopter dip tanks at a free open house on Tuesday, Oct. 13, from 9 a.m. to noon.

The tanks are fire-suppression water reservoirs that allow firefighting helicopters to refill quickly during wildfire emergencies, according to the district. Located in the rural De Luz and La Cresta communities near Murrieta, the installations give helicopter crews a nearby water source in one of the region's most fire-prone corridors.

The district said the tanks cut helicopter turnaround times, keeping aircraft in the air longer during active fires. Rancho Water, which serves more than 46,000 connections across Temecula, Murrieta and parts of unincorporated Riverside County, worked with both Riverside County and Cal Fire to select the sites.

Riverside County Third District Supervisor Chuck Washington awarded Rancho Water $500,000 through the county's Unincorporated Communities Initiative to fund the project, according to a district press release from October 2025. The money covered planning, construction and installation.

According to the district's construction project updates page, research and site selection began in winter 2026. Construction ran through summer 2026, with completion expected in fall 2026.

The tanks sit in the same general area where the Volcano Fire broke out on July 7. That blaze burned about 144 acres near Via Volcano and Tenaja Road in La Cresta before crews reached 90% containment by July 11, Spectrum News reported. At its peak, nearly 190 firefighters and three helicopters fought the fire, according to CBS Los Angeles. Rancho Water posted on X on July 7 that it was monitoring the fire and directed residents to follow Cal Fire for evacuation updates.

Jason Martin said in the October 2025 district press release that the project would "…support lifesaving wildfire mitigation measures in one of our region's most vulnerable areas." Martin was identified as the district's general manager in that release.

The district advises attendees to wear sturdy shoes. For the event address and details, visit RanchoWater.com or call (951) 296-6900.