Do helicopters drop water on fires?

In wildland firefighting parlance, it’s simply called “bucket work.” That’s the term used to describe one of the jobs helicopters perform while fighting wildfires – dropping super-sized buckets of water on fires to douse flames and hot spots.

Can water bombing helicopters use salt water?

Sea water could be used, provided the tankers have access to it, but dropping salt water onto catchment areas or farms would only add to the problems caused by the fire.

Can helicopters fly over fires?

Helicopters can hover over the fire and drop water or retardant. The S-64 Helitanker has microprocessor-controlled doors on its tank. The doors are controlled based on the area to be covered and wind conditions. Fixed-wing aircraft must make a pass and drop water or retardant like a bomber.

Do helicopters drop fire retardant?

Under many conditions in the western United States, late model helicopters equipped with new accessories and adequately supplied can drop as much fire retardant as most fixed-wing air tankers, and with greater accuracy and ecor.

Can sea water be used for fire fighting?

Explanation: Yes, salt water can be used to put out wildfires. However, salt water can harm plant life: some species are sensitive to salinity levels. It can also be impractical to use saltwater, if the fires occur far from the coast.

What would happen if Notre-Dame was hit by an airplane?

“Helicopter or airplane, the weight of the water and the intensity of the drop at low altitude could indeed weaken the structure of Notre-Dame and result in collateral damage to the buildings in the vicinity,” the agency added.

Did firefighters use planes to save Notre Dame?

Hundreds of firefighters responded to the enormous blaze, and a French firefighter official reportedly said late Monday that the structure of Notre Dame could be saved from total destruction. They did not use aircraft to dump water on the building, a strategy that France’s civil defense agency appeared to dismiss earlier in a pair of tweets.

Why didn’t the French use planes to dump water on the Twin Towers?

They did not use aircraft to dump water on the building, a strategy that France’s civil defense agency appeared to dismiss earlier in a pair of tweets. “The drop of water by air on this type of building could indeed result in the collapse of the entire structure,” the agency wrote in French.

How many gallons of water did France’s fire tankers carry?

France made plans to convert six aircraft into air tankers last year, according to the industry website Fire Aviation. Each of the planes can carry 2,600 gallons of water. By Monday evening local time, France’s Ministry of the Interior reported that 400 firefighters were responding to the Notre Dame fire.