Police Firefighting Helicopter in Commission for the First Time in Ordos

In mid-August, a police firefighting helicopter was put into commission in the Inner-Mongolian city of Ordos for the first time. The helicopter performed high-rise building fire inspections, and firefighting rescue drills.

The Kamov Ka-32 is a twin-engine helicopter purchased by the Ordos Police Air Unit for firefighting operations from Kamov, a Russian rotorcraft manufacturing company. The introduction of the Ka-32 follows Ordos Police Air Unit’s previous purchase of two AW109SP helicopters, manufactured by AgustaWestland, a British-Italian multinational helicopter design and manufacturing company, for rescue and patrol use in 2012. The Kamov Ka-32 helicopter purchased in July of this year differentiates itself from the AW109SP and other helicopters mainly in its load capabilities. It can handle a load of 5 tons of freight or up to 16 passengers. In its firefighting configuration, the helicopter can draw up to 3 tons of water from a body as shallow as 0.8 meters deep. It can then put out a fire by dropping this water from a helibucket, or by firing water cannons and fire-fighting bombs from its sides. The KA-32’s operational ability allows it to make up for the shortcomings of traditional fire trucks, which cannot put out fires reaching more than 28 meters high. With the helicopter’s versatility and capability, the introduction of the KA-32 is expected to play an important role in urban and building firefighting.

8月中旬，内蒙古首架警用消防直升机在鄂尔多斯市康巴什新区湖滨广场进行了高层建筑火情视察、消防灭火救援技能演练。

这架卡-32直升机是鄂尔多斯市警航队继2012年购置两架AW109SP搜救、巡逻警用直升机之后，今年7月底从俄罗斯卡莫夫公司购进的又一种专为消防设计研制的双发通用直升机。与其他直升机最大不同是，它一次能吊运5吨重的货物，搭载16名乘客，机载消防水箱一分钟能取3吨水，0.8米水深即可取水，可以进行水箱吊桶灭火、水炮灭火、机侧发射消防弹灭火等。它的投入使用，不仅弥补了消防车超过28米高度无法灭火的缺陷，在城市和建筑火灾扑救中将发挥重要作用。