STARFlight has new firefighting tool

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Not like WCPD's Aviation unit, which has access to water everywhere given all the lakes,resevoirs,rivers, sounds, etc in Westchester. Here, everything is seriously drying up. They have been using portable ponds, if available, but this makes it much easier for the pilot to get the bucket filled. They carry this right aboard the helicopter.

http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/star-flight-has-new-firefighting-tool

STARFlight has new firefighting tool

Drought making water scarce, adds to fire danger

Published : Thursday, 07 Jul 2011, 6:09 PM CDT

Natalie Stoll

DEL VALLE (Austin), Texas (KXAN) - Exceptional drought spans Texas according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor . The past nine months have been the driest period in more than 100 years.

The drought means the threat for wildfires is very real. Travis County has a new tool that can making fighting rural brush fires easier.

Travis County bought a $3,000 collapsible water tank that rides aboard the STARFlight to the scene of a wildfire. It's affectionately called the "pumpkin," for obvious reasons. The goal is to make firefighting from the air more efficient. Set-up takes only minutes and the water -- 4,800 gallons -- comes from fire trucks on the scene.

Filling from a portable pond, NOT the new device...