While more than 170 firefighters fought an out-of-control Meredith blaze that ravaged more than 16 hectares, a Kestrel 346 helped the fight from above.
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The new, highly anticipated Kestrel helitack 346 has a 1500 litre capacity and will be automatically dispatched from the Ballarat Airport to any grass and scrub fire on a high fire danger day.
The controversial new system evoked great emotion from residents when they were told the beloved aircrane would not be returning to Ballarat this year.
The region’s top firefighters remain confident the new system will reduce the likelihood of blazes getting out of control.
Meredith is a perfect example, a Department of Environment Land Water and Planning spokesman said a total of 140 firefighters from the CFA, DEWLP and Parks Victoria worked to contain the fire and that two water-bombing aircraft had also been used on the bushfire.
“We have a mixture of geography and terrain in Ballarat,” Ballarat CFA aviation officer Wayne Rigg said.
“This aircraft will be on pre-determined dispatch (PDT) and is simply another tool in the toolbox. It’s just another fire truck.”
A CFA state control centre spokeswoman confirmed a Kestrel helitack water bomber and two-single engine fixed winged firebombers had been instrumental in aiding ground crews control the fire.
When a job, like the Meredith fire comes in Mr Rigg and other crew including pilot John Walsh receive a page “like any ground crew”, Mr Rigg said.
Crews then discuss the plan of attack before entering the air-fleet.
“These are pretty powerful aircraft the speed is 100 km/h. The air attack is supported by an (airborne) air attack supervisor who gives us details on what to expect,” pilot John Walsh said. The long wet-season is a “catch-22” for firefighters, Mr Rigg said.
“It brought abundant grass growth, but it also means the dams are full, so we will be looking at doing very quick turnaround times in refill this season.”
Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) is trialling the use of drones in conducting assessments of the damage caused by bushfires and other emergencies.
They can also take infra-red footage that helps firefighters determine whether structures or trees still contain heat and remain a fire threat, or whether flood levees have potential to be breached.
Emergency management commissioner Craig Lapsley said drones would allow assessments of places where people could not get to. with The Age