Why Water is the LAST Resort for Fight fires Planes, LA: Findings Updated Edition
With continuous increases in numbers and severity within California, notably Los Angeles County, wildfires find themselves on numerous fronts as battled by firefighters across the country, who use fire-fighting equipment to quash these devastating natural disasters. An important part among these equipment comes in the guise of firefighting planes, important mainly in containing outbreaks of wildfires via the dumping large quantities of either water or the fire retardant on burning hotspots. However, under certain conditions, suppression aircraft will make use of saltwater even though it is not considered as the last option. Saltwater is still a hot debate and topic for concern nowadays due to new breakthroughs in the management of wildfires and the latest technology in fire suppression.
The threat of wildfires in Los Angeles is also on the rise.
In fact, over the past decades, Los Angeles has witnessed the alarming rise of wildfires in their frequency, size, and intensity. Climate change, along with the natural geographical and vegetational conditions of this region, made it a suitable place for wild fires to spread rapidly. Summers are long, hot, dry winters, combined with strong winds, and give rise to the so-called “fire season”.
In response, fire departments have been forced to innovate and adapt their strategies in firefighting against increasingly unpredictable and powerful wildfires. Air support-which includes big air tankers, helicopters, and smaller aircraft-is now invaluable in these efforts. These planes can drop gigantic amounts of water and fire retardant on the fire-prone area, reducing flame intensity and the spread of fire. But with firefighting resources scarce in other instances, saltwater may have to be resorted to and that comes replete with numerous challenges and risks.
Latest Aerial Firefighting Technological Advances
Aerial firefighting technology has greatly thrived in the past years, making it easier and more effective to fight wildfires. Modern firefighting planes can carry specialized fire retardants that cool down flames and create protective barriers against the spread of fire. Often, these retardants are much more effective than water because they adhere to vegetation and other fuels, thereby significantly slowing the pace of a fire.
Some aircraft can carry up to 10,000 gallons of water or fire retardant, and nozzle technology innovations allow for more precise drops on the most critical areas of a fire. Newer systems can even track the fire’s progress using satellite imaging, allowing for real-time coordination between ground crews and aircraft.
Nevertheless, the fact of the matter is that aerial firefighting resources are a rare commodity in most situations and can be stretched thin when fires occur in rapid succession. Large, moving fires in Los Angeles often mean firefighting crews will need to scrounge for what’s available from where they can get it, and that can sometimes mean saltwater.
Why Saltwater Remains a Last Resort
1. Aircraft Damage Caused by Saltwater
Probably, the most important reason saltwater is shunned in firefighting operations is the danger it poses to damaging the aircraft involved in the operation. Saltwater is corrosive, and through repeated use in firefighting on aircraft, can easily damage parts of aircraft whether internal or external. The metallic parts of an aircraft, especially the engines, frames, and hydraulic systems are very vulnerable to corrosion from saltwater.
2. Environmental Impact
Another significant issue involving the use of ocean water as a fire retardant is environmental. Salt water solutions contain elevated levels of sodium chloride and other minerals that are toxic to a native ecosystem. When saltwater is thrown over the plants and soil, its chemical nature becomes altered and, therefore, this ground becomes not favorable for further plant growth. Another thing that can be posed is that water run-off coming from salt can pollute rivers, lakes, and groundwater. Long-term damage can be caused to local water supplies and wildlife habitats as well.
3. Lesser Fire Suppression Effectiveness
There is also the reason that saltwater cannot effectively cool fires; instead, water with fresh or unpolluted waters is more capable of extinguishing fires since they cool the flames as well as absorb heat. However, the salt present in seawater can reduce its ability to absorb heat. Salt can cause water to evaporate faster, thereby limiting its cooling capacity. Additionally, the salt can create an insulating crust that protects the fire, making it difficult for water to penetrate and put the flames out.
Fire retardants, on the other hand, cool the fire and impede the chemical reactions that fuel combustion. Because of this, retardants are commonly used because they are designed to stick to plant material and will linger on it after the fire-a task that water, especially saltwater, cannot do.
4. Logistical and Operational Issues
Ocean water as a fire-suppressing agent also presents a number of operational issues. The logistics of getting ocean water can be a problem, especially if the fire is located far from the coast. Aircraft have to travel long distances to get to the ocean, which wastes precious time, especially in a rapidly spreading wildfire.
New Developments in Firefighting Resources
Fires are becoming increasingly frequent and fierce. As such, there have been improvements on the fire fighting apparatus and machinery. Here are the latest developments geared towards conserving saltwater in fire fighting procedures:
1. Environmentally Friendly Fire Retardants:
Interest is growing in developing less toxic, more biodegradable fire retardants that are friendlier to the environment. Such retardants can protect the aircraft and the environment, minimizing risks from the chemicals that could both harm the ecosystem and the equipment.
2. Drones and Autonomous Aircraft:
The drones are under test to drop water or fire retardants in inaccessible areas. Autonomous aircraft designed to be used in firefighting can be offered to manned aircraft to provide greater resources when a large-scale fire occurs.
3. Better Data and Technology:
The use of satellite imagery with real-time analytics is enabling them to track the movement of wildfires more accurately. Such information helps guide firefighting forces to use available resources in areas where they best fit.
Conclusion
While saltwater is highly prized where it is scarce, using it to extinguish a fire is usually marred with challenges. Saltwater readily corrodes and cannot be used to cool a fire. Besides, the use of saltwater is thought to produce pollution, hence its use almost exclusively as a last resort.