Las main missions to combat forest fires are carried out by aerial media, either property or hired. Depending on their typology, they serve to launch water and/or retardant, media coordination, observation of the event and personnel transport.
In addition to various types of airplanes, To combat fires, helicopters are frequently usedsince they are high versatility transports, which allow access to areas to which airplanes cannot reach. Additionally, they have greater power of movement and are very useful, both in prevention tasks, and extinction.
Greater resources to combat fires
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Middle has launched a New base for the Forest Fire Extinction helicopter in the Pitiusaslocated at the SA Coma facilities, in Ibiza, owned by the Insular Consell, with which it has a collaboration agreement.
The Minister Joan Simonet has visited the infrastructure accompanied by the Director General of Natural Environment and Forestry Management, Anna Torres, and the President of the Consell d’Eivissa, Vicent Marí, stressed that “it will improve the operational capacity of the inter -regular device of the Autonomous Community and will allow one faster and efficient response to a forest fire. In addition, it will guarantee compliance with aeronautical regulations, improving the conditions of the crew of these helicopters ».
In this sense, Simonet recalled that the extinction helicopter for the Pitiusas is one of the seven aircraft that are part of the inter -regular operation of forest fires of the Balearic Islands: «It has a helitransported brigade and a Environment agent as first intervention media in case of fireand its presence in Ibiza and Formentera is guaranteed from April 1 to September 30, although this period can be modified according to the annual risk of forest fire, ”explained the Minister.
For her part, the general director Anna Torres has detailed that the new base, with an investment of 47,948.67 euros, «allows some Better helicopter crew working conditions (pilot and mechanical) in compliance with current aeronautical regulations ». As indicated by Torres, the modular facilities, about 60 square meters, include kitchen, bathroom, two rest rooms for crew, warehouse and large common room and dining area. In addition, the closures of doors and windows are all of PVC and double glazing, in order to better thermal and acoustic insulation.
Likewise, the Minister Simonet has remarked that the Balearic Institute of Nature (IBANAT), which is the manager of the facilities, has been responsible for carrying out the preparation of the land, the construction of a warehouse for The helicopter service and conditioning around the helipad. These actions, which the IBANAT has performed, have a cost of almost 45,000 euros.
Finally, the Minister has also influenced the importance of “modernizing the means of extinction and consolidating the essential infrastructure to guarantee an immediate intervention,” he thanked the collaboration with the Consell d’Eivissa and the municipalities involved and has re -highlighted the importance of prevention: «We call for citizenship so that Extreme precautions and collaborate in the fight against forest fireskey task that commits us all, with the main objective of protecting and conserving our territory and not endangering the security of the population ».