“/> AERIAL SUPPORT. The Philippine Air Force’s Sokol helicopter conducts heli-bucket operations, assisting ground firefighters in battling the massive blaze that hit Isla Puting Bato, Tondo, Manila, on Sunday (Nov. 24, 2024). The fire, which started at around 8 a.m. and reached Task Force Charlie, was declared out by 4:07 p.m. (Screengrabbed from Manila DRRMO video)
MANILA – The Philippine Air Force (PAF) mobilized its air assets to support firefighting efforts and conducted helicopter-bucket operations in response to a massive fire that broke out in Isla Puting Bato, Tondo, Manila, on Sunday.
In a statement, PAF said it deployed multiple aircraft, including Black Hawk, B205, and Sokol helicopters to conduct numerous heli-bucket operations, dropping water on the affected areas to suppress the flames.
The 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing’s Black Hawk helicopter completed 15 sorties, while the 505th Search and Rescue Group’s B205 and Sokol helicopters conducted 26 and 59 sorties, respectively.
The fire started at around 8 a.m. and escalated to Task Force Charlie by 12:58 pm.
It reportedly engulfed over 1,000 structures and displaced approximately 2,000 families.
The Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said fire out was declared at 4:07 p.m. (With a report from Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
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