Philippine Air Force to deploy 2 more helicopters to fight Mt. Apo fire

The Air Force will deploy two UH-1D helicopters to help put out the fire in Mt. Apo in Davao, which has destroyed more than 300 hectares of forest and grassland.

Air Force spokesman Col. Araus Robert Musico said a Super Huey helicopter is now being used to drop buckets of water on affected areas. A UH-1D helicopter, meanwhile was deployed to bring supplies to responders.
 
Musico said the local government is requesting the Air Force to provide two more helicopters for the operations, which started on March 29.
 
“A bambi bucket was used to collect water and to douse the fire. More than 50 bucket drops of water have been poured. They also drop crushed ice donated by volunteer groups,” the Air Force spokesman said.
 
“From what I understand, we’ll be sending two more. But the Hueys are still in other areas and we are still monitoring their movement,” he added.
 
The two additional UH-ID helicopters will come from Luzon and were expected to reach the Mt. Apo area Sunday afternoon or Monday morning.
 
“We want to contain it (fire) as soon as possible,” Musico said.
 
The military has also sent a company of soldiers or more than 100 troopers to Mt. Apo to assist firefighters and volunteers in putting out the forest fire.

Source: MANILA, Philippines - By Alexis Romero (philstar.com) | Updated April 3, 2016
Photo: A Philippine Air Force UH-1H Huey helicopter. (Photo by Philippine Air Force /paf.mil.ph)


(3.04.2016)