Due to the heat wave that crosses several sectors of the country, reports of forest fires have increased before the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, including the one reported in the municipality of Palermo, department of Huila, where it was necessary to intervene with helicopters of the Colombian Aerospace Force, to put an end to the conflagration that left 220 hectares of vegetation cover burnt.
After the emergency call, the Volunteer Fire Brigade of this municipality, together with a platoon of the Engineer Battalion of Assistance and Prevention of Disasters No.80, moved to the place to provide support to face the fire, however, being a place difficult to access by land, it was necessary to support the extinguishing by air, using the Bambi Bucket system, which suspended to the HUEY-II helicopter has the capacity to store, transport and spread water mixed with retardant liquid, on the fire.
On this occasion, more than 20,000 liters of water were necessary, with fifteen gallons of retardant liquid to put out the fire, a situation that was verified in person by the Secretary of Government of Huila, Andrés Mauricio Muñoz, the Colonel Commander of the Air Combat Command No.4 and the Colonel Commander of the Ninth Brigade, who traveled to the site to verify the success of the environmental operation.
Being aware of the responsibility as institution, regarding environmental care and the right to life, both human and specimens, the Colombian Aerospace Force will continue to deploy its Resources to provide support for this type of emergencies throughout the national territory, working jointly with the other agencies responsible for both risk and disaster management; in the same way it invites people to be attentive of burns that can get out of control and in the same way to denounce when those responsible are known.
Source: Press - Colombian Aerospace Force
