Since October 27, the Austrian Armed Forces have been using a total of two S-70 Black Hawks, an Agusta Bell 212 and an Alouette III helicopter to fight the extensive forest fire in the Rax region. On the first day alone, around one million liters of water were dropped over the extremely difficult-to-access fires.
“Since yesterday, our air forces have been deployed at Austria’s largest forest fire. With our aircraft, our servicemen and women, together with the civilian emergency services on site, are helping to fight the flames in the Hirschwang area as quickly as possible. Always being there when we are needed – that’s our job,” says Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner. “I wish the deployed soldiers every success and all civilian emergency services every stamina for this demanding task!”
Around 500 landings and 50 flying hours were necessary to transport this mass of water. The extinguishing water tanks hold 3,000 liters (S-70 Black Hawk), 800 liters (Agusta Bell 212) and 500 liters for the Alouette III.
As such scenarios are practiced time and again, cooperation with the fire department works very well. The army helicopters have been in continuous operation since Monday. The operation to fight the forest fire is still ongoing.
