A water-bombing Mil Mi-8 helicopter belonging to the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations is taking active part in fighting wildfires in Serbia. Within the past 24 hours the helicopter dropped on fires 8 tons of water. Dozens of hectares of forests, properties, buildings and houses in an area occupied by more than 1,000 residents were saved from blazes. Though the temperature was 40 degrees above zero, experience of the Russian crew and help of Serbian colleagues helped to contain the fires quickly.

Once back in the town of Nis, the commander of the Mi-8 Vladimir Seryshev said that they had to work in a mountainous hard-to-reach area.

“We have to work on a low altitude, but the Mi-8 is the handiest in such a terrain. The helicopter will help to reduce the risk of new fires and will be an efficient tool in fighting fires, and today we proved it in practice,” he added.

Last week, following the request of the Serbia’s Government and order of the Russian Government the Emergency Ministry’s water-dropping Mi-8 left Moscow for Nis.

The humanitarian operation became necessary as fire hazard in Serbia is growing due to hot weather.

The helicopter with its experienced crew from the Emergency Ministry’s Zhukovsky air rescue center is going to be stationed in the town of Nis to respond to large fires in Serbia and the Balkans.

The Emergency Ministry’s Mi-8 is a multi-purpose helicopter rigged with a water-bombing device and an extended arm with a hoist to get rescuers and the injured down and up. The crew has carried out hundreds of successful rescue operation in different climatic conditions in Russia and abroad.