Australia to assist in fire and smoke reduction in Chiang Mai and surrounding areas.

Due to the lack of cooperation with locals even after multiple pleas and threats of fines, it has been decided that more
extreme measures are necessary to reduce the crop burning and protect the health of the Thai citizens.

As such and in coordination with the Thailand Polution Control Department, the National Environment Agency, Ministry

of Natural Resources and Environment and the Chiang Mai governor, the Australian government and the Australian

National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) have agreed to support the effort with aerial firefighting equipment, including

S-64 Aircrane Helitanker helicopters and Bombardier's CL-415 water bombers. Technicians will also be supplied for training

local agencies in methods and technologies.

Due to the cost of the specialized firefighting chemicals, the CL-415 will use various water sources such as Chiang Mai's

Huay Tung Tow lake. The S-64 Helitanker choppers will however use the chemicals in the worse case fires and revert to

'dropping and dipping' for water at the assigned waterways.

In an unprecedented move, considering recent issues, NASA has agreed to supply ultra high resolution satellite imagery

in near real time to help in locating the fire sources.

Bombardier CL-415

S-64 Helitanker

-- 1/4/2013

555

Elvis should help a lot. Those jumbo helicopters beat elephants pissing on the fire.

These helicopters are amazingly effective at fighting bushfires, so they will be more than a match for old farmer Somchai and his burning field..... bring it on

I don't think they will be assisting... They will be doing all the fire suppression.

MEthinks an April 1st joke

MEthinks an April 1st joke

Traditionally joking is meant to stop at midday (jokes after this are said to make the joker the fool rather than their target).

I sure hope this isn't a joke

MEthinks an April 1st joke

That was my very thought.

Then I saw who the poster was.

Every one knows moderators don't have a sense of humor.

Give the farmers a 1,000.000 fine + jail term also for putting human and animal lifes in danger

^^ Would be a start, but wouldn't it be best to just hang the fire-starters? Problem solved, no need for expensive equipment, April 1 or no.

Sadly, methinks this one gets filed under 'driving on the right from January 1st', "Goo Farangs" culture testing. Dated 1st April before noon.

However, if they save the water bombers a few weeks, we could have a combined Songkran and extinguishing forest/rice/rubbish fires all in one!