22/07/2015 - Yesterday afternoon the Navy used two AB-212 helicopters to extinguish two fires that broke out in southern Italy. The request for an air competition was received by the Unified Air Operational Center of the Department of Civil Protection (COAU).

The first fire developed in the town of Motta San Giovanni (RC) where the helicopter took off from the Catania air base, while the second fire spread to the Salento coast where the helicopter took off from Grottaglie.

Both fires have been extinguished.

The interventions were carried out with water collected from the sea using the “bamby bucket” bucket, an 500 liter container adapted under the belly of the helicopter.

The helicopters of the Navy, included in the intervention program of the 2015 Forest Firefighting Campaign, returned to the air bases and resumed their operational readiness.

Photo: Marina Military