Aerial firefighting hits the big screen

Disney’s latest movie offering, Planes: Fire & Rescue, was released in July, giving cinemagoers a glimpse into the world of aerial firefighting – or at least an alternative world full of talking planes and helicopters, at any rate. The roles of CAL FIRE and the US Forest Service in the creation of the film have been highlighted. Although the film is aimed at the younger audience, Disney worked closely with members of both organisations in order to add as much realism to the film as possible. The filmmakers made a number of trips to the Hemet-Ryan Air Attack Base. Julie Hutchinson, who retired as a battalion chief in December, commented: “They were focusing on every detail, from the retardant stains on the concrete to what every piece of aerial equipment did.” CAL FIRE director Chief Ken Pimlott added: “[The film’s] emphasis on safety, the seriousness of the situatons we often face, and the inherent risk of the job are all very true to life.”