Israeli Fire Fighting Innovation: Airborne Rescue Platform

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Yesterday a new airborne rescue platform was installed on an Israeli Air Force helicopter for the first time. This is the newest addition to the arsenal of the Israeli Fire Fighting and Rescue Authority, to be used by fire fighters rescuing people trapped in burning buildings.

Fire Fighting Authority Chief Shahar Ayalon presented the new rescue platform, manufactured in the U.S., in an interview with iHLS. The platform now enters an evaluation and testing phase in cooperation with the IAF. Fire fighters will begin training with the new platform in April: A helicopter carrying it will approach a burning building, with several fire fighters inside. The platform will touch down on top of the building, rescuing up to 10 people at a time.

IHLS – Israel Homeland Security

Chief Ayalon gave some additional details concerning new developments at the Fire Fighting and Rescue Authority:

• The authority operates 8 Air Tractor fire fighting planes, with 6 additional planes and 4 helicopters planned by 2015.
• A central unit, a special fire fighting unit aimed at rescuing fire fighters in distress, is now being formed.
• A new quick-response motorcycle unit is also in early stages of evaluation. Every motorcycle carries basic fire fighting equipment, with riders being able to navigate through narrow streets and heavy traffic.

New fire fighting stations open this week in several locations around Israel. The authority operates 110 stations, with 40 additional stations planned over the next five years. Israel currently has 1,800 fire fighters, 1,000 additional volunteers and 400 people in charge of training and logistics. 40,000 fire and rescue incidents are recorded annually around the country.