A Parksville-area helicopter company is off to fight forest fires at night in Alberta.
The crew from Ascent Helicopters arrived in Alberta on Sunday to do some initial training with personnel there, according to Trent Lemke, owner of Ascent Helicopters.
Ascent has experience doing search and rescue and air ambulance operations at night, but this will be their first night-time firefighting contract, he added.
香蕉视频直播淚n the U.S. they do it quite a bit,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Ascent香蕉视频直播檚 purpose-built tanks on the bottom of their helicopters, combined with night vision use will bolster forest fire fighting efforts by allowing crews to 香蕉视频直播渁ction香蕉视频直播� a blaze throughout the night, Lemke said.
香蕉视频直播淚f it香蕉视频直播檚 a high-priority fire you can stay with it, where traditionally we香蕉视频直播檙e pulling off just before dark,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚f there is [ground] personnel that they香蕉视频直播檙e going to leave on the fires, normally if they don香蕉视频直播檛 have aircraft backup they can香蕉视频直播檛 action the fire. They can only do light duties until there香蕉视频直播檚 a backup or emergency back in plan to get them out of there.香蕉视频直播�
Ascent香蕉视频直播檚 contract with the Alberta government is for the next five summers. Its chopper will be one of three working as part of Alberta香蕉视频直播檚 new developmental program. The Ascent helicopter will have a crew of six rotating in and out of Alberta over the summer.
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The water tanks were developed approximately 20 years ago for the province of B.C., Lemke said, specially built for firefighting operations.
香蕉视频直播淎lberta is quite anxious to try one out and see how it works with this program,香蕉视频直播� he added.
Lemke is hopeful that some day night-time operations can be used in B.C.
香蕉视频直播淭o me it only makes sense, but there香蕉视频直播檚 lots of factors involved in it for sure.香蕉视频直播�
Ascent Helicopters has been active for close to 20 years, carrying out specialized flight services to a variety of government and industry clients including BC Hydro, MOFLNR Rapattack Program, Crescent Spur Heli Skiing, BC Air Ambulance, film and mining and resource exploration.
In 2023, it was awarded a $554.4-million contract to supply new aircraft to BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) to deliver helicopter emergency medical services.
The company has bases in Parksville and Fernie.
