A competition to name the two Black Hawk helicopters acquired by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services received more than 2,500 entries and 12,000 votes.
As a result, the two aircraft have been named Yelka and Florian.
In a statement, the Department said that, fittingly, the names honoured both the State’s Indigenous heritage and the firefighters who worked to keep the Western Australian community safe.
“Yelka is the Noongar word for hawk, while Florian is the Patron Saint for Firefighters,” it said.
“The competition attracted more than 2,500 entries and names were narrowed down to a final list comprising five pairs, which were then voted on by the public.”
Minister for Emergency Services, Stephen Dawson said it was the first time the Department had two Black Hawk helicopters as part of its aerial firefighting fleet.
“The two ex-military twin-engine aircraft can carry 4,500 litres of water in their Australian-designed-and-built belly tanks,” Mr Dawson said.
“They can operate for up to 10 hours a day and are a significant addition to the aviation fleet, which comprises 37 aircraft and includes fixed-wing bombers, helitaks and a national large air tanker,” he said.
The Minister said that, each year, Western Australians followed the operations of the Department’s aerial fleet “so giving them the opportunity to name the two Black Hawk helicopters will further strengthen that connection”.
