Burn bosses are responsible for starting controlled-burn fires that prevent the devastating spread of wildfires. Not only are they allowed to start wildfires, they have some creative tools to get the job done. One of the biggest is the Helitorch, a helicopter that shoots outs a flammable gelled gasoline. The fire-breathing copter is so powerful it can set 1.6km of forest on fire at one time.
Of course, you have to be in Alaska to light a mile of forest ablaze without concern. Most locations need scaled-down tools designed specifically for precise burns. In these smaller areas, burn bosses use incendiary ping-pong balls that are dropped from helicopters or planes. They also use the Green Dragon, a water cannon-like device that shoots flammable spheres at a rate of 35 plastic balls per minute. [PopSci]
Another Melbourne Gamer
Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 3:44 PMI am a bit disappointed that neither of these have appeared in a video game.
Dave B
Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 7:43 PMWith how sensitive the issue of fire bugs is, Im amazed this has been published! In Australia there are special places in the corrections facilities for these people & I can imagine its not a nice one if you catch my drift.
Really, the last thing we need is instructions on how professionals do this for a crazy to copy & murder people!
a local firefighter
Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 9:35 PMthe article provides no details on how to use the equipment. i’m a volunteer firefighter so i get what you’re trying to say. i was there at churchill, i was on branch at mirboo north the days before and i mopped up with longwarry in labertouche and i’ve seen, felt and experienced the devistation of the bushfires (and many more before black saturday) however there is no need to condemn every little peice of media that shows flame. i think you should get an understanding of the good this gear does before you go mentioning jails and the law.
William
Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 12:30 AMMmm, i wouldn’t say its an instruction manual, it doesn’t mention chemicals used or any of the nasty tricks arsonists will get up to in order to protect their identity. The articles about heavy equipment used by fire services to prescribed burn or combat fire. In fact its probably pretty important to mention in Australia the value of prescribed burning to decrease fuel load and the fact that in very large fires, the only way to stop them is often a earthen brake that is then back burned in, and that in these large campaign fires, water is more to stop a fire escaping containment lines and self/property protection.
a local firefighter
Monday, June 6, 2011 at 1:02 AMwell said. a near perfect understanding of why we actually do controlled burns.
fighting fire with fire isnt just some stupid saying, it actually works much better than using water.
remember the fire tetrahedron, children – water removes a portion of the heat and, if you use enough, could also remove the air (alternatively use firefighting foams), however removal of fuel is the only one true way to stop a fire.
unfortunately the age old focus of water being the opposite element to water isn’t as great as it’s cracked up to be.