Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company has donated $10,000 to Bonny Doon Volunteer Fire and Rescue in Santa Cruz, Calif., to support its services in responding to fire, medical and other emergencies. Lockheed Martin presented the contribution to Bonny Doon Volunteer Fire and Rescue during an appreciation ceremony today at the Lockheed Martin Santa Cruz Facility.

"Lockheed Martin is grateful to these local volunteers and the firefighters who came from throughout California and other states to mount a heroic effort that saved lives, homes and industrial facilities," said S. K. Gupta, vice president of operations, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, who presented the check. "As a member of this community, we appreciate the emergency response services Bonny Doon Volunteer Fire and Rescue provides every day of the year."

Bonny Doon Volunteer Fire and Rescue, which serves as Santa Cruz County Fire Company 32, was one of the first units to respond to the fire that began Aug. 12 at the end of Empire Grade Road and that eventually spread across more than 7,800 acres in the Bonny Doon area. Dubbed the "Lockheed Fire" by California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), the fire apparently started on private property well outside of the boundaries of the Lockheed Martin Santa Cruz Facility. As the fire spread, it charred an estimated 1,800 acres of unimproved Lockheed Martin property.

During the fire, Lockheed Martin opened its property to CAL FIRE personnel and firefighters from multiple agencies as a staging area for ground crews and helicopter operations. At various times, more than 2,000 public safety workers were involved in containment efforts. A team of Lockheed Martin emergency response employees remained on-site to support firefighters, including maintaining a pumping station at a man-made lake on the property from which aircraft scooped water for fire containment.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company owns and operates the 3,800-acre Santa Cruz Facility that is used for light manufacturing and testing of aerospace vehicle subsystems and components. The facility has been in use since 1957.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.

                            Media Contacts:
           Lynn Fisher, 408-742-7606; e-mail lynn.m.fisher@lmco.com
          Charles Manor, 408-360-9751; e-mail charles.manor@lmco.com

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin