WCSO NEWS RELEASE
The video at this link features aerial coverage of the Washoe Fire suppression efforts, courtesy of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office RAVEN unit, available for broadcast use. RAVEN was used exclusively during the Washoe fire for surveillance and damage assessment. When winds are not a concern, RAVEN is equipped for fire suppression.
Additional information on RAVEN fire suppression
On July 6, 2011, RAVEN was certified to fly fire suppression missions. The HH-1H Huey helicopter is equipped with a 323-gallon water tank used for precision water drops to protect specific structures, or targeted hot spots. The water tank is mounted under the helicopter’s belly, which can either be filled via a hose from a fire engine or with a “snorkel,” a long hose with a water pump in its end that can suck water out of any water source that is 18 inches deep such as the Truckee River, or small tank set up by fire crews. Both pilots are military trained Washoe County Deputies with previous firefighting experience. RAVEN dropped more than 78,700 gallons of water in 2011 in their firefighting efforts.
