- Title:
-
The Effectiveness and Efficiency of Aerial Fire Fighting in Australia
- Date:
- June 2007
- Organisations
- BCRC
- Authors:
- M Plucunski; J Gould; G McCarthy; J Hollis
- Location:
- Australia, Australia
Overview
This report analysed data form fires were aerial suppression had been used to determine the parameters for predicting first attack success. First attack success was defined as fire containment within eight hours of detection.Findings
The effectiveness of aerial fire suppression depends on many factors including:
• Aircraft travel time
• Distance from fire
• Aircraft type
• Drop characteristics
• Ambient conditions
• Ground resources
• Fire intensity
• Fire type
• Fuel type
• Suppression agent
Aerial suppression can be effective in supporting ground crews and improve the probability of first attack success by up to 50 percent or more if the FFDI is in the low moderate or high classes. Where the FFDI is in the very high class aerial suppression can improve the chances of first attack success form little chance to medium likelihood if the time to first attack is less than 90 minutes.
The data sample for this research was limited and further research is required.
View the full report
View the Executive Summary
View Bushfire CRC update August 2006
Presentations
Above the battlefield - effective aerial suppression by Jim Gould, CSIRO
Effectiveness and efficiency of aerial firefighting in Australia by Jim Gould, CSIRO
More information on this research project is available on the Bushfire CRC site
