• Source:JND
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Nainital Forest Fire: As a devastating fire ravages the forests of Nainital in Uttarakhand, the Indian Air Force on Saturday deployed a Mi-17 V5 helicopter to extinguish the forest fires. The helicopter used a ‘Bambi Bucket’, also known as the helicopter bucket to collect water from the Bhimtal lake near Nainital and pour it over the burning forests. The Uttarakhand government has also sought help from the Indian Army to control the raging forest fires in Nainital. 

“Our government is continuously running a campaign with @IAF_MCC government to control forest fires. Water is being sprayed from helicopters in the forest fire-affected areas,” Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said in a post on X. 

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“The forest fires are a challenge for us. This is a big fire. We are working for all the essential needs. We have asked for help from the Army… We will try to control the fire as soon as possible,” he further said. Earlier on Saturday, the Uttarakhand CM also conducted an aerial survey of the damage caused by the forest fires in Nainital. He also asked the officials to remain on alert and take preventive measures to control the fire. 

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, CM Dhami said, “An aerial survey of the damage caused by a forest fire in Nainital area was conducted. We are continuously working to take strict action against the miscreants who set fire to forests and to control forest fire.”

All You Need To Know About Bambi Bucket: 

To stop the raging forest fires in Uttarakhand’s Nainital district, the Indian army on Saturday deployed its Mi-17 V5 helicopter to undertake Bambi Bucket operations. The Bambi Bucket, a specialized apparatus, designed for aerial firefighting, serves as a beacon of hope in the time of devastation, capable of delivering large volumes of water to douse the fire and protect precious ecosystems. It's been in use since the 1980s. The apparatus is available in every size and model and can carry water ranging from 270 litres to more than 9,840 litres.

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During a Bambi Bucket operation, the helicopter flies over the fire-affected area and sprinkles water on the flames, which helps bring the fire under control by reducing it or fully extinguishing it. This bucket can be stored in a helicopter until the operation is finished. 

Who Invented The Bambi Bucket? 

Bambi Bucket was invented by a Canadian man named Don Arney, founder of SEI Industries in 1982. Innovators sought to revolutionize aerial firefighting techniques due to the challenges posed by traditional water buckets. According to the National Inventors Hall of Fame’s website, these water buckets were generally made of “solid fibreglass, plastic, or canvas with metal frames” and were “too rigid to fit inside the aircraft” and had to be “trucked to fire sites or flown in on the hook of a helicopter thereby slowing the aircraft down.” 

During a Bambi Bucket operation, the helicopter flies over the fire-affected area and sprinkles water on the flames. (Image Credit: @IAF_MCC/X)

According to SEI Industries Ltd, a company, established by Arney, which manufactures the tool the Bambi Bucket is currently used in more than 115 countries around the world by more than 1,000 helicopter operators.