Over the past year, IAF firefighting aircraft have flown more than 1,180 sorties, putting out more than 180 fires
Date: 26/06/2012, 6:14 PM
Author: Jonathan Urich
Aircraft from the IAF’s Aerial Firefighting Unit took part on Tuesday (June 25) in putting out fires that broke out in the Jerusalem region.
While the aircraft battled the blazes from the air, dozens of firefighters, Magen David Adom forces, and personnel from other emergency bodies fought the fires on the ground.
The Aerial Firefighting Unit is based at Sde Dov Airport and its aircraft are deployed on two landing strips in northern and southern Israel. The unit was declared operational more than a year ago and has since become an essential component of Israel’s firefighting capabilities.
Recently, the unit participated in a joint drill with firefighting forces from Cyprus.
Over the past year, the unit has conducted more than 1,180 sorties and put out more than 160 forest and brush fires.