 |
||||
|
||||
| In
1947, helicopters were first used on wildland fires in the Southern
California area and were soon recognized as a valuable tool. Fire
managers found that helicopters could rapidly transport personnel
and cargo to a fire and then remain on-scene to perform a variety
of tactical and logistical missions. Today the Forest Service has
over 500 helicopters on contract for use in a wide variety of projects
and missions. All helicopter operations must adhere to the rigid agency
and interagency standards, policies and safety procedures.
Helicopters can be equipped with a bucket or fixed tank to drop water or retardant during firefighting operations. They deliver helitack crews (firefighting personnel) for initial attack, and transport personnel and cargo in support of fires. Some helitack firefighters are trained to rappel from the helicopter to reach fires in remote locations quickly. Helicopters can also carry instruments to provide infrared imaging or to generate digital maps of wildland fires. When not assigned to wildland fires, helicopters and their trained personnel may be utilized to ignite prescribed fires, flying with helitorches suspended from the helicopter or dropping spherical ignition devices. One of the most important services helicopters can provide is the ability to remove injured firefighters from the fireline and deliver them directly to emergency medical facilities.
|
|
|||
