Water bomber to take aim at north coast bushfires
Posted
A water bomber plane is to be based on the New South Wales north coast during the peak of the bushfire season for the first time.
For the next three months, a Rural Fire Service Air Tractor 802 will on duty from Grafton airport.
The RFS district manager, Brett Condie, says it will be based in the Clarence Valley, but will be on call as a "first response" to bushfires on the north coast and northern tablelands.
"This is the first time that an aircraft has been located in the Grafton area which is a huge boost for the locals," he said.
"The service is always trying to expand this type of resource, so we've been lucky enough to have it located here in Grafton for the reminder of the fire season.
"But we've got to mindful it's the ground crews, the volunteer firefighters that really still need to get in and make sure the fire's out."
Mr Condie says it will be a big help to local RFS volunteers.
"Whilst it will be very much available for the Clarence Valley, it'll also be available for deployment to the other north coast regions as well as the northern tablelands," he said.
"It really has the capability to drop a large amount of water on a fire which can be used to protect assets and buy time for field crews to get to the scene of a fire."
