Brazilian Air Force fights fire in national park
In total, two aircraft crews and support staff totalling 26 military personnel are working on the mission.
The Brazilian Air Force has been engaged with fighting wildfires in the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park in Goiás state. A C-130 Hercules plane carrying 12,000 litres (2,600 gallons) of water took off on 24 October at 14:28 hrs from 2 Wing, Anápolis to help fight the fire. In total, two aircraft crews and support staff totalling 26 military personnel are working on the mission.
The C-130 boasts a Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS), consisting of five water tanks that can carry up to 12,000 litres of water, with two pipes to eject the water from the plane’s rear ramp.
A second C-130 aided in the transportation of the equipment used in the operation, including a compressor, water tanks, a forklift and power source, in addition to the material that supports the MAFFS system.
According to the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation, as of 24 October, the fire had consumed 35 thousand hectares – almost 15 per cent of the park.