NEWBURY PARK : Fire Memories Spur Donations for Copters

A Newbury Park company whose employees’ homes were threatened by last year’s Green Meadow fire has agreed to donate parts and mechanical help to maintain the county’s helicopter fleet.

“So many of us watched as the county’s helicopters dropped water on the fires that were burning all around our homes,” said Mike Conway, chairman of PTI Technologies Inc. “We just felt like this would be a good way to show our gratitude.”

The county’s three helicopters worked nearly nonstop dropping water on the blaze, which consumed 40,000 acres around Newbury Park.

The unit is also responsible for rescues performed in the county almost daily.

“These aircraft get to see a lot of activity, and it’s expensive to keep them up and running,” said John Davitz, chief of maintenance for the Ventura County sheriff’s air unit. “We really appreciate the help that these guys have offered.”

PTI, which manufactures filters for the helicopters, donated about $6,000 worth of equipment, and offered to help the department’s three-person maintenance crew with repairs.

They also have asked other companies in the area to join them.

“I think we all realized how important the helicopters were when we were at risk of losing our homes,” said Rick Esler, an engineer at PTI who lives in Newbury Park. “I would like to see a lot of companies looking for ways that they can give something back.”