Victoria’s water bombing fleet has received a substantial boost with 51 new aircrafts added to the fleet.
The fleet is now considered one of the biggest in history, with two Large Air Tankers added to the fleet and stationed at Avalon Airport.
One of the tankers is currently in use in Queensland and is set to be moved to Victoria once the risk has subsided in the north.
Stay up-to-date on the latest news with The VIC Briefing – keeping you in the loop with the region’s breaking news as it hits.
A third tanker will also be available for use along with 100 other private aircrafts which will also be available to assist in the case of an emergency.
The new additions come as the country is set to face a high risk summer with heatwaves and fires predicted.
Along with the tankers and private aircrafts, a helicopter which is capable of picking up ocean water will be deployed if necessary.
Night aircrafts for firebombing including a Super Puma firebombing helicopter will also be available for use.
While the fleet has been bolstered to combat potential fires, many of the aircrafts will not be available to Victoria until late 2023.
Subscribe to The Briefing, Australia’s fastest-growing news podcast on Listnr today. The Briefing serves up the latest news headlines and a deep dive into a topic affecting you. All in under 20 minutes.