AIB2021: the Italian Air Force engaged in fighting fires

(To air Force)
13/07/21

Yesterday afternoon a crew of the 82nd CSAR (Combat Search And Rescue) Center of the 15th Air Force's Trapani wing intervened to extinguish the flames of a vast fire that had developed in Caltabellotta, in the province of Agrigento.

A sortie of just over two hours of flight, ten launches and about 7500 liters of water dropped: this is the balance of the firefighting mission carried out by an HH-139B of the 82nd CSAR.

The take-off order came from Aerospace Operations Command of Poggio Renatico (FE), in coordination with Permanent Unified Operations Room (SOUP) of the Sicily Region.

The HH-139B helicopter is part of the assets of the Armed Forces that the Ministry of Defense has made available for this year's forest fire campaign in Sicily, which began last June 15, which consolidates the collaboration between the Armed Forces, National Corps of the Fire Brigade and Civil Protection to make the fight against forest fires more effective and incisive.

The commitment of the Armed Forces is part of the agreement stipulated between the Ministry of Defense and the Department of Civil Protection as part of the forest fire campaign, which provides for the establishment of the Unified Air Operations Center (COAU), as the coordinating body of interventions in case of emergency .