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Brazilian Air Force Concludes Support Operation Against Forest Fires in Chile

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The Brazilian Air Force has concluded its assistance in combating the forest fires that ravaged the central-southern region of Chile. The mission employed a C-130 Hercules aircraft from the First Squadron of the First Transport Group (1º/1º GT - Gordo Squadron, based in Rio de Janeiro). The operation involved the release of 636 thousand liters of water and over 40 flight hours. The team had been operating in the country since February 9.

The operation was coordinated by the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC), the Ministry of Defense, and the Brazilian Air Force. The forest fires, which affected several regions of the country and resulted in the deaths of more than 20 people, destroyed around 1,500 homes and left nearly 6,000 people homeless.

The aircraft uses the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) and has the capacity to carry 12,000 liters of water. The system weighs 770 kilograms, features two tubes that project water from the rear ramp of the aircraft at an approximate height of 150 feet (about 46 meters).

In January 2017, the FAB was also called to assist in firefighting efforts in Chile, and personnel from the First Troop Transport Group (1st GTT - Zeus Squadron) conducted water drops during the 14-day mission in the country. In this operation, the Squadron achieved a record of 48 missions in six working days. Over 500,000 liters of water were poured onto fires located in the Bío-Bío region.

Chile also requested Brazil's help to combat fires in 2014. The FAB C-130 Hercules was deployed to fight a forest fire that struck the communes of Florida and Temuco. Around 30 Brazilian military personnel participated in that earlier mission.

Source:www.defensa.com