During the afternoon of 28th September, RAF Griffin helicopters were scrambled to assist with wildfire near to RAF Akrotiri.
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The helicopters from 84 Squadron based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus were deployed alongside firefighting crews from the Republic of Cyprus to drop water from Bambi Buckets that are underslung from the aircraft.
Two 84 Squadron Griffin HAR2 aircraft launched flying a total of 9:25hrs with 65 tonnes of water dropped as part of an island wide aviation response which saw 4 Forestry Department FW aircraft, 2 contracted Helix helicopters and one RoC Police unit helicopter as the On Scene Airborne Commander. This is the second time this season that a fire has broken out in the same area, but thankfully with the sterling co-ordinated ground and air efforts by civilian and military emergency services, the fire was successfully contained overnight and finally put out the following morning.
The Squadron are regularly called upon to extinguish battle damaging wildfires alongside other Cypriot agencies and train throughout the year to deal with the hot Mediterranean climate. The Squadron also conduct search and rescue (SAR) missions, provides rotary lift for force protection personnel, and carries out military aid to civilian authorities.
