The Tasmania Fire Service has launched its 15-strong aircraft fleet ahead of the upcoming bushfire season, which is expected to be ‘more difficult and extreme’ than years gone by.
The fleet, increased from 12 last year, includes specialist planes and helicopters that are capable of carrying up to 3,000 litres of water.
“Our fleet includes a mix of firebombing, air supervision and aerial intelligence gathering aircraft -eight are helicopters and seven are fixed-wing planes,” Tasmania Fire Service Deputy Chief Officer Matt Lowe said.
“Aerial firefighting continues to be a key part of our bushfire response, hitting the fires hard and fast to keep them as contained as possible until our ground crews can access the scene and getting vital information from above to help our ground crews plan and strategise.”
“We’ve put this into action already this year, with the bushfires at Friendly Beaches for example.”
The aircraft will be available for crews across the Tasmania Fire Service, Parks and Wildlife and Sustainable Timbers Tasmania.
The fleet has been expanded to quickly respond to fires on high fire danger days and keep them small until ground crews arrive.
“We know we are going to have more bushfires this summer, and we need everyone to play their part now by being as prepared as possible,” Lowe said.
“Don’t wait until it’s too late, prepare now and make sure you have a bushfire plan in place.”
Tasmania’s aerial firefighting fleet for 2023/24 includes:
- 2 x “Air Tractor” AT-802F airplane
- 4 x “Fireboss” is the AT-802F airplane, equipped with amphibious floats
- 4 x “Bell” 214B helicopters
- 2 x “Twin Squirrel” AS355-F1 helicopters
- 1 x FB 700 AS350-B2 Special Intelligence Gathering helicopter
- 1 x “HeliTreck” BK117 helicopter
- 1 x “BirdDog” Aero Commander firespotter airplane
