Rotocraft have become a part of our everyday life, and yet it is always interesting to watch how they act in an emergency, rescuing our lives and property. On 30 June we happened to watch the outstanding performance of the helicopter crews in real action as they were putting down a flame in a densely populated urban area of the Moscow city.
That day a fire occurred in the buildings of the Almaz scientific industrial association (NPO Almaz) located on the Leningradsky prospect. This point needs clarification. The company, for very long time known as NPO Almaz (developer of anti-aircraft missile systems, including the S-300 series and the more resent S-400 Triumph), changed its name on 15 January 2008 for the H ead system design bureau of the Almaz-Antei anti-aircraft defense concern named after Academician A.A. Raspletin. Despite this, Moscow dwellers continue to refer to the beautiful Almaz head office building as the NPO Almaz. As it became known later, the buildings on fire actually belonged to the Scientific Research Institute of the Radio Equipment, a member in the Almaz association. This establishment is half-way through merging with NPO Almaz. That day we happened to be near the place. On 12:30, arriving at the entrance to the Aeroport underground station, a dense smoke came to our notice. It was clearly visible in the blue skies over the city. The smoke was black-black and dense, meaning fire fighting action was yet to be taken. It seemed the fire was in a distance of a mile, somewhere inside rather large fenced territory occupied by NPO Almaz and adjoining Mikoyan design house. Having taken some shots, we took the underground train to Voikovskaya station and then hiked all the way to the Sokol station.
While travelling, we found first reports on the Internet. They said fire fighters had arrived on the spot, and estimated the area on fire at some 400 square meters. Official report said that over a hundred of equipment items were on their way to the Sokol area. A total of twenty fire fighting brigades were dispatched, tasked with putting down the flame. Four helicopters were summoned to render support from the air, three Kamov Ka- 32s and a Mi-26T. These rotorcraft belong to the Aviation Directorate of the Ministry for Emergency (Emercom).
Having emerged from the underground at Voikovskaya, we saw a Ka-32 with Emercom markings on it. The helicopter was equipped with the V U-5 water "bucket" hanging on the sling. Apparently, the pilots were taking water from a nearby reservoir at the Northern River Terminal on the Moscow Channel, carrying it to the Sokol area for dropping it onto the fire. Soon after we spotted one more Ka-32 equipped with a water gun. This helicopter also made circles between water reservoirs and the fire. Instead of using the water bucket, it sucked water by means of a hose, apparently using onboard water pump. The crew of this helicopter acted most bravely, by closing the building on fire at a height of merely 10-15 meters. When within the advertized range of the gun, some 30-50 meters, they "throwed" water charges into the flame from aside. Meanwhile, as we walked towards Sokol, a roof on fire came to our field of view. To reach it, the fire fighters drove their vehicles through fenced territory of the Mikoyan design house.
A fresh report appeared on the Internet: "By 13:00 the fire had been localized, upon which the fire fighters began annihilating it." From our perspective, we noticed that, although the smoke continued to go, it changed color from black-black to ash-grey. This provided evidence to the fact that the fire fighters had used some water and special substances to the fire. At some point a Ka-32 seemed to be dropping black-colored substance onto the fire, apparently subjecting it to some sort of special treatment.
Around 14:00 a Mi-26T flew towards the area. It carried a huge water bucket on sling. Apparently, the arrival of the world's largest helicopter turned the tables decisively in favor of the fire fighters. Heavy water bombing terminated the fire completely. By 14:30 the smoke had stopped coming. For half-an-hour a Ka-32 continued to make circles above the area, but it did not drop any more water.
Luckily, no-one was hurt in the affected area. Emercom rescue teams managed to evacuate all people from the area, including a few persons who got stuck in the elevator in one of the ill-fated buildings. The area affected by the flame was later estimated at 1200 square meters. Human factor (non-compliance to the safety measures instruction during repair of the roof) was blamed to be the cause.
Since we were no more than a witness, unable to help in any way, all we could was to make our opinion on the actions of the professionals. Taking account of the short distances between the helicopters and the open fire, we can estimate the work of the Ka-32s. In our view, the crews demonstrated courage and good skills. Putting down flames in urban areas is a routine for Emercom: they register and participate in fire fighting operations a few hundred times every year.
