Firefighting fleet ready for battle
Firefighting fleet ready for battle
23 Dezember 2010
published by sj.farmonline.com.au
Australia — One of the worlds largest firefighting helicopters, Gypsy Lady, has landed in South Australia. The Erickson Aircrane, with a 7,500 litre capacity, has joined forces with other aircraft now on stand-by to tackle bushfires this summer.
Premier Mike Rann welcomed the arrival of the high-volume helicopter ahead of a practical exercise and demonstration at Mount Crawford Airstrip.
Boasting the highest load volume, amongst the 14-strong fleet, the Aircrane will be stationed in the Adelaide Hills. This impressive machine is a significant asset to the fire-fighting fleet and will remain here for the next three months at least, Mr Rann said.
The addition of the Aircrane means South Australia now has extensive aerial fire fighting capabilities, particularly in high fire risk areas to assist fire fighters on the ground.
Last year we used the Aircrane during significant fires at Port Lincoln, Athelstone and Delamere. In 2009 we also deployed it to the Victorian bushfires to support fire control operations in the days following Black Saturday.
Bushfires can be unpredictable, but what we have learnt from past experience is that the threat can be reduced by people and their communities learning how to prepare and more importantly, how to respond when one strikes, Mr Rann said.
Emergency Services Minister, Michael Wright, said the Governments commitment to aerial fire fighting has increased significantly since coming to office.
The Government pledged to provide the best and most effective resources to protect South Australias urban fringes and rural communities from bushfire, he said.
State and Federal Government spending on aerial fire fighting amounts to more than $7 million for the current Fire Danger Season.
Basing this aircraft in South Australia again this Fire Danger Season adds to the aerial fire fighting diversity, with a total of 14 water bombing and surveillance aircraft at our disposal, plus access to the MAC Rescue Helicopter Service, which speeds up our response time to bushfires, Minister Wright said.
The CFS will have the following fleet available this summer:
- 7 fixed wing bombers
- 1 high volume helicopter
- 2 medium volume helicopters
- 1 surveillance helicopter
- 3 fixed wing surveillance
- Access to 3 Motor Accident Commission (MAC) helicopters
- Access to additional aerial firefighting resources across the nation through the National Aerial Firefighting Centre
The CFS today acknowledged the valuable work of ground support volunteers, airfield operators and other agencies who contribute their time and expertise to help complement South Australias fire fighting aircraft resources.
The special tribute coincided with a launch of CFS aerial fire fighting capabilities with water bombing activities involving the Erickson Aircrane and other aircraft.
CFS Acting Chief Officer Andrew Lawson said the aircraft fleet is jointly funded between the State and Federal governments through the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC).
The 14 aircraft offer a flexible fleet contributing to the success of CFS aerial operations. They have been specifically selected for South Australias landscape and bushfire conditions, Mr Lawson said.
CFS aircraft will cover high risk areas across South Australia including Lower Eyre Peninsula, Mount Lofty Ranges and Lower South East, during the Fire Danger Season.
It is also important at this time of the year for all South Australians to be reminded of the devastation that bushfires have caused in previous fire danger seasons including Ash Wednesday, Wangary and more recently the Black Saturday fires in Victoria which claimed 173 lives, Mr Lawson said.
