Sea water for fire fighting?

[Snagglefoot]

The popular CL415 Super Scooper has two water tanks in the plane that can hold seawater and can be flushed. The plane itself will contact seawater during a pick up, but can be sprayed down with freshwater at the end of the day.

 

[4WD]

Seawater is being used to fight the wildfires.
However, it has own set of problems, both on equipment and the environment.

Pumping it up from the ocean is a major problem and that is not done. But when the ocean is calm, planes are using seawater to dump on the fires.

This is a pretty good explanation;
https://theconversation.com/firefig...g-saltwater-is-typically-a-last-resort-247188

Calm water and high winds - well met ocean reports that I review

 

[D60]

As others have said, "no one" wants to pay for a system that could do this reliably. No question the money is there but it's spent on other things that are considered more important.

I seem to recall Aesop mentioning something about an ant and a grasshopper?

Anyway, the solution really is simple: we can just determine that salt water identifies as fresh water. Reality bends to our will, after all.

 

[edyvw]

CL415 is specifically designed for use on salt water surfaces. Others are not.
Other airplanes must land to get refilled. If you are already landing, retardant is better option so one can contain fire.
Helicopters are using anything they can. Most fire departments in areas prone to Wildland fires have people register pools with them, so they have list of ones that meet requirements for helicopters to use water.

 

[SevenBizzos]

 

[Mechanician]

They will have to rebuild with the weather/climate situation in mind. Like south Florida did after Andrew.
Better water supply, and fireproofed buildings.

 

[M56959]

Had to moderate too many times.