For the past two weeks, various aid organizations have been in continuous action to combat the forest fire in Wildalpen. There was also active support from police helicopters on Saturday. Despite joint efforts, a ‘fire out’ could not take place until next week.
The firefighting operations of the fire brigade take place in alpine and impassable terrain. This also requires intensive support from the air. “On Saturday, two police helicopters were available for the fire brigade and mountain rescue teams. In some cases, a total of three police helicopters from different states were on site at the same time,” the Styrian State Police Directorate reported.
The intensive firefighting measures could soon receive support “from above”. The unusually summery temperatures are expected to be followed by a change in the weather next week. “The firefighting efforts are still in full swing and will most likely last until at least Tuesday,” said the troops deployed on site.
Air support is essential
The current balance of the Styrian police helicopter shows that air support is indispensable. Since the fire broke out in Wildalpen, the aircraft has been in use almost continuously for a total of 13 days with approximately 50 flight hours. During this time, the flying machine crews conducted firewater, equipment and passenger flights.
There is no doubt that this type of mission is also stressful for the police helicopter crew. “For us, mutual support in such operations is our top priority. Collaboration with a wide variety of aid organizations runs smoothly. We are trained and used to such missions, but they are still very demanding,” says pilot Erwin Groß.
Source: Krone
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