Gwinnett County Police learn aerial firefighting

Crew from Gwinnett County Police’s Aviation Unit have been training in the use of Bambi buckets, with a view to offering additional firefighting support to the county, which is situated northeast of Atlanta, Georgia.

The training included an initial multi-day session, as well as monthly practice to maintain proficiency. Training the police air unit in aerial firefighting techniques is intended to provide additional support to Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services, who oversee most firefighting efforts in the county.

While the police aviation unit has reportedly had two buckets in its possession, each with a capacity of around 363 liters, since the early 1990s, they have not been in use since the late 1990s or early 2000s. Before the buckets could be used, they had to be sent away for repairs with a total cost of around US$18,000.

The idea to revive the police’s firefighting capacity followed several disruptive fires in 2016

Gwinnett County Police’s Captain Richard King confirmed that the police had decided to begin using the buckets again after several fires broke out in 2016 along the I-85 highway and in Harbins Park in Dacula.

Speaking to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, he explained: “I recall listening to the radio and hearing how taxing that event was on our staff, the fire department, and how much it affected the citizens of Gwinnett County both from a traffic perspective, as well as potential damage to property.”

“Having an option to drop water on locations that are not easily accessible by traditional means is a great resource to have that can support our partners with the Fire Department and provide enhanced services to citizens and visitors of Gwinnett County,” King said.