Aerial Firefighting

This is a pretty cool video of a helicopter maneuvering in someone’s backyard to scoop up water from a pool to help fight a wildfire.

Planes and helicopters are critical tools in managing wildfires, particularly in California where we face wildfires annually. Although aircraft are often used to fight wildfires, aircraft alone cannot put them out. Firefighters rely on planes and helicopters to:

• Deliver equipment and supplies.
• Deploy smokejumpers and rappellers to a fire.
• Transport firefighters.
• Provide reconnaissance of new fires, fire locations, and fire behavior.
• Drop fire-retardant or water to slow down a fire so firefighters can contain it.
• Ignite prescribed fires

Thanks to all our fire service personnel who help protect us when we need it. We are grateful to have them.

Source: US Fire Service