As thousands of people in BC are evacuated from their homes ahead of raging forest fires, where are the mighty Martin Mars water bombers?
From owners Coulson Flying Tankers in Port Alberni, BC :
They can be in the air in ten minutes and, based on historical data, each can make a drop every fifteen minutes. Working in tandem, this equates to 7,200 US gallons (27,276 litres) every seven minutes and each drop can cover an area of up to 4 acres (1.6 hectares).
The aircraft [takes on] water at a rate in excess of a ton per second. Pickup time is, on average, 25 seconds.
The Hawaii Mars is currently waiting on standby at Lake Elsinore near Los Angelos because the US Forest Service had the wit to hire it mid-July and good for them.
But why, if Global TV News can be believed tonight, is the other one currently doing service as a tourist attraction on Sproat Lake?
I'm really asking here - does anyone know why the BC government isn't making use of it?
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