CHC Fire

[Splitpin]

With the climate changing here summer by summer (as in getting hotter and hotter), what a great opportunity for someone to get hold of a couple of large capacity aircraft, dedicated to firefighting.

[Aviator 1]

I was just thinking of that today, I realize its not a cheap item to have sitting around but we really need a good water bomber for when incidents like this occur.

[Ian Warren]

When you look at it , and hopeful this is not proven to be Arson , big airborne fire-trucks simply would not be viable .. in areas that are prone to fire maybe , last big fire on Bank Peninsular or in the city side valley was the mid 1990s were couple delinquent kids decided to light up a valley.

A big machine would have to earn its way, then the areas caught needs to be close to normal fire threat then require a FOB .. fuel and infrastructure, .... of all things .. arm the RNZAF C-130 with a heavy drop capacity, .... but at the Mo it is not Australia nor US .. this is only small by compare so comes a disused cost.

[Splitpin]

'arm the RNZAF C-130 with a heavy drop capacity," agree, and re the commercial operator, maybe your right ...if it's not flying, it's not making money.
Correct, this isn't Oz or the U.S .. but, like the earthquakes ...these situations are new to NZ, and it will get worse, and at the moment those guys clearly can't cope.
The country is small enough not to need FOB 's ...... look at the proximity of this fire to Harewood .... 5 mins flying time.
It's easy, have the equipment needed( tanks or bladders with retardant) at all major airports, and maybe a few in the regions ...
Just saying ...that's all.

[NZ255]

Good thinking, wonder how much one of these are? Modular Airborne FireFighting System



http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets/Di ... ystem.aspx

[Ian Warren]

Biggest thing is getting the idea going .. these fire are still new in many sense, that area they cover , dose it deem the cost .. been well over a good twenty five years since this type of fire on the Peninsular ... be good practice to create a plan .. but .. its a but , I guess it comes down to measuring the cost .. outside the that .. By compare is only a small area ..

But in saying that again ... be helpful to help Australia or further abroad , maybe another way to gear up the RNZAF !

[Fozzer]

I don't know what its like in NZ and Oz, but one thing that always amazes me, is that folks in the USA continue to build their houses, etc, completely surrounded by trees and vegetation!

All the stuff that catches fire in a really big way every hot Summer-time...and in between!!

And when everything gets burnt to the ground, they just shrug their shoulders, and re-build the same stuff in the same place all over again!

They have a fascination for building their houses in the middle of forests!!

It never makes sense to me!

I follow their Wild Fire news every time it occurs, and track it with my Flight Sim Cessna 150 and Google Maps.

Me?

I would build a house at the top of a bare hill with nary a big tree in sight!

Nothing to catch fire...or flood!

The whole of England would have to be ablaze to scorch the shrubs in my back garden!

Vegetation LOOKS very nice....just NOT surrounding your house!

Paul.....Vegetable Soup for Supper.... ...!

[Ian Warren]

Paul ... reason my place is a CONCRETE BLOCKHOUSE! ... to many valuable aeroplane books and a well sort after Battleship !

[Fozzer]

I think dear old Mother Nature, in her infinite wisdom as always, sets these fires off to burn down all the old stuff, and all its pests, etc, in readiness for all the new stuff to grow in its place.

Humans just get in the way, and spoil the natural process by trying to stop it!

Humans!.....Just don't build your buildings amongst trees... ...!

Paul....Hugging a solitary tree!.... ...!

[Ian Warren]

Humans just get in the way, and spoil the natural process by trying to stop it!

Humans!.....Just don't build you buildings amongst trees... ...!

Mother left decades ago ... spoiled nature ... Concrete is made from nature , I recall having a tree house also .. but the council told our father it was an eyesore and was to be pulled down (all six to seven stories of it) .. Hells! had that tree hut not been pulled down we could have warned the fire department ... even now a fleet of helo's are returning back to the hot spot.

[Aviator 1]

Well I wish all the best to the People of Christchurch and that the aerial drops can keep it under control.

[Ian Warren]

It looks they have nailed it this morning , the changed wind cause issues yester arvo now burning back on itself fingers crossed.

[Aviator 1]

Yes fingers crossed. The comment said before regarding having a waterbomber. I realized that its just not necessary to have one sitting around because most fires that happen
are able to be put out mainly by monsoon buckets and currently the top dressers. Its the same for the spraying tool from the back of the herc. As amazing as it seems its just
not needed. A event like this in Christchurch on the port hills is rare for New Zealand unlike places like Aus where you get allot of them and that is when you need the water bombers and equipment like that.
If they really needed to I could see Aus bringing over a water bomber if needed.

[Ian Warren]

If they really needed to I could see Aus bringing over a water bomber if needed.

Works both ways the equipment is pretty much quick install , and could be adapted to RNZAF machines , as pointed out , this fire is only a matchstick compared to Australia .. But in saying that it would be good to maybe train, hell already there .. give the C-130 crews some excitement in this field of operations.

[Aviator 1]

Yes they could be adapted but they are also in the planning stage of being replaced and what with has yet to be heard. At the moment rumors speak of C17 and A400 not to say
any of those aircraft will be chosen or upgrade to the later version of the C130. Hate saying but its all money and I cant seem them investing in any of that equipment as good
as it is. If they called in a water bomber from Aus yes its cost but it would get the fire under control quicker than the helis monsoon buckets.

[Aviator 1]

http://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/ ... &ocid=iehp

[Ian Warren]

Ice Breakers don't fly .. mind you a blocka Ice would cool things .. fleet replacement last thing they would wanta do is cut em up for water bombers.

[Aviator 1]

No I have yet to see one fly. Looks like there getting on top of it touch wood it stays under control though the night.

[Ian Warren]

Marty, I think its been nailed now , be interesting to here the experience Ian.W has on it .

[Fozzer]

Well, according to today's BBC News, Thursday 16th. Feb, the fire is still raging!

(Unless the BBC News is out-of-date...again!).... ...!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-38988972

Paul...watching the news...!