Agreement on the 31 helicopters for fire-fighting

During the summer, severe forest fires went the emergency services on the knees and several EU-countries assisted with vattenbombning when the domestic resources are not enough – which led to very harsh and widespread criticism. With this newly signed agreement between the MSB and the three helicopter is going to change.

The 31 helicopters will be in store between 1 may and 15 september.

" this is a good support for the Swedish rescue services. Fires can be fought with ground troops. However, with airborne support, which dampens the flames you have much greater chance to extinguish the fire from the ground, " says Björn Johansson.

based on a number of bases around the country and can in this way cover the whole of Sweden's surface in a short time. During the skogsbrandssäsongen can the helicopters be placed at the places where the fire risk is high.

– We will analyze the brandriskprognoserna opening during the summer, and on that basis, we will adapt the readiness to the right level and the right region of the country, " says Björn Johansson.

In grundberedskap should the helicopters be able to stand to the MSB's disposal within a maximum of twelve hours. If the fire risk increases, the helicopters will be on standby with up to 180 minutes response time. At the highest standby mode, when will the helicopters be able to be in the air within 90 minutes.

helikopterföretagen runs for one year with the option of a further year, according to Björn Johansson.

" the Reason we did not chose a longer term is that it is the first time we do this and we have had only a short time for us to get to this resource. We run a year and then we evaluate. The next period is likely to be longer than a year.