(no subject)

[den]

A southerly blew in today, bringing with it smoke from the Goobang bushfire. I now have a permanent asthma attack and cough. triffic.

Comments

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

Nope! There is no program because the fixed-wing aircraft are far too expensive "to justify buying," according to the politicians (but not the firies.)

We use helecopters with water buckets. This year there is an Ericson Skycrane with a water tank, on hire from the Tennesee National Guard. 2 more are on the way.

The 'crane is named Elvis. 8)

Today it dumped 9 tonnes of water on 3 fire crews who were trapped by flames, saving the 14 fire fighters. TV Reporters say the people walked out of the smoke singing "Love Me Tender."

Re:

[bandicoot.livejournal.com]

Here, the government doesn't buy them. They're privately owned and contracted by the season to the Forest Service. Without them, it becomes much more difficult to fight remote fires. On a fire as large as yours, there would be dozens of planes and dozens of choppers working it.