The Slovak machine complements the existing repertoire of aircraft that is provided by the armed forces and the police. The helicopter “gives us massive support with the extinguishing work”, said state fire brigade commander Dietmar Fahrafellner.
“I am confident that we will achieve corresponding successes in certain areas with the air forces,” said operations manager Josef Huber to the APA. The aim is to weaken the embers, especially in those areas where no ground troops can be deployed.
Two CL-415 Canadair aircraft from Italy, each with a capacity of around 7,000 liters, were also deployed in the airspace over the Rax area on Sunday. Required water was taken from the New Danube.
“The fire fighting attacks from the air are showing good results,” Pernkopf drew an interim conclusion. “Yesterday there were 850 firefighters on the ground and in the air fighting the flames, today there will be even more. They all do superhuman things, ”emphasized the state vice-president. On Sunday afternoon, two more special helicopters – Sikorsky CH-53 – from Germany will join them, both with a capacity of 5,000 liters each.
Mountain rescue continues to play an important role in fighting forest fires in extremely rough terrain. The members of the Lower Austria / Vienna mountain rescue service will also receive support on Sunday from colleagues from Styria, as was announced in a broadcast.