Air Force's 'Bambi Bucket' Helps Control Raging Forest Fire

[Daedalus]

A major forest fire, which broke out in a forest 30 kilometres away from Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam late on Thursday and started spreading, was brought in control by four of the Indian Air Force's newly-acquired MI-17 V5 helicopters.

Acting on a request by the state administration, the IAF deployed the MI-17 V5 helicopters which are equipped with fire-fighting equipment known as the 'Bambi Bucket', which can hold up to 3,500 litres of water.

In its first sortie, the helicopter carried out a detailed aerial assessment of the area and the extent to which the fire had spread.

Though the fire seemed to be under control initially, at around 1.30 pm, it picked up speed again due to the increasing wind-speed. The helicopters had to make 42 rounds and use nearly one lakh litres of water to douse the fire. The fire is now under control; administration officials and forest department authorities will conduct a sortie early on Saturday morning to assess the situation.

This is the third time this year that IAF choppers were used to fight forest fires, says IAF, adding that a "potentially catastrophic environmental disaster" was averted.

Air Force's 'Bambi Bucket' Helps Control Raging Forest Fire

 

[axisofevil]

So close to the Navy headquarters? An act of sabotage?

 

[acetophenol]

So close to the Navy headquarters? An act of sabotage?

Forest fire for sabotage? I don't think so

 

[axisofevil]

Forest fire for sabotage? I don't think so

Distraction. Sneak in, sneak out.....

 

[acetophenol]

Distraction. Sneak in, sneak out.....

It doesn't work that way bro, the forest was kilometers away from Naval HQ and responding to emergencies is routine for these folks,their response to these situations won't be by compromising security. Its just another day for them.

 

[axisofevil]

It doesn't work that way bro, the forest was kilometers away from Naval HQ and responding to emergencies is routine for these folks,their response to these situations won't be by compromising security. Its just another day for them.

Coo....thanks for the info

 

[Abingdonboy]

View attachment 147751

A major forest fire, which broke out in a forest 30 kilometres away from Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam late on Thursday and started spreading, was brought in control by four of the Indian Air Force's newly-acquired MI-17 V5 helicopters.

Acting on a request by the state administration, the IAF deployed the MI-17 V5 helicopters which are equipped with fire-fighting equipment known as the 'Bambi Bucket', which can hold up to 3,500 litres of water.

In its first sortie, the helicopter carried out a detailed aerial assessment of the area and the extent to which the fire had spread.

Though the fire seemed to be under control initially, at around 1.30 pm, it picked up speed again due to the increasing wind-speed. The helicopters had to make 42 rounds and use nearly one lakh litres of water to douse the fire. The fire is now under control; administration officials and forest department authorities will conduct a sortie early on Saturday morning to assess the situation.

This is the third time this year that IAF choppers were used to fight forest fires, says IAF, adding that a "potentially catastrophic environmental disaster" was averted.

Air Force's 'Bambi Bucket' Helps Control Raging Forest Fire

Really this shouldn't be the job of the IAF, the civic bodies across India need to take their EMS to a higher level.

 

[acetophenol]

Really this shouldn't be the job of the IAF, the civic bodies across India need to take their EMS to a higher level.

Fire fighting-Not IAF's job.
Aerial fire fighting-Yes!
Its not viable for civic bodies to maintain a medium lift heli and aerial fire fighting equipments,especially when their need is extremely rare.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Fire fighting-Not IAF's job.
Aerial fire fighting-Yes!
Its not viable for civic bodies to maintain a medium lift heli and aerial fire fighting equipments,especially when their need is extremely rare.

Look at the US's example (yes it is obviously a long term yardstick) where the local fire departments have helicopters in such fire-prone areas.

 

[acetophenol]

Look at the US's example (yes it is obviously a long term yardstick) where the local fire departments have helicopters in such fire-prone areas.

We rely more on passive techniques like building fire lines (lines with trees cleared that will block the fire spreading) in dealing forest fires. But yeah,may be we should have light multipurpose helis like Dhruv for every situation,ideal for lifting people,patients,cargo or may be a bambi bucket.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

Look at the US's example (yes it is obviously a long term yardstick) where the local fire departments have helicopters in such fire-prone areas.

They have lots of Money, lots of Helos and lots of Pilots.