Two large air tankers from New South Wales have arrived in Tasmania to bolster firefighting efforts on the West Coast.
The NSW Rural Fire Service has deployed its 737 jet ‘Marie Bashir’, which can deliver more than 15,000 litres of water and release its entire payload in just 2.2 seconds.
The aircraft operates with a two-pilot crew and can be refilled within 10 minutes using two refilling points.
Accompanying the 737 is a C-130 Hercules aircraft. Both will assist in fighting the Canning Peak blaze, which authorities say poses a significant threat to natural assets.
“The focus for these aircraft will be protecting the natural environment from the threat of the fire at Canning Peak, there are no other assets at risk,” State Fire Commander Matt Lowe said.
Parks and Wildlife Service spokesperson Ashley Rushton said both aircraft will also target areas at Tomahawk Falls and Lake Will.
“There are high natural value conifers in the Lake St Clair Cradle Mountain National Park that sits within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and these aircraft will be deployed in an effort to protect these assets,” he said
Earlier today, 20 aircraft and 59 firefighters were responding to 16 bushfires across the West Coast.
The fires have burned approximately 30,000 hectares combined.
