can salt water from the ocean be used to put out wildfires?

Question

I noticed that the water planes where not picking up water from the ocean So I am curious as to why.

Answer 1

Yes, saltwater can be used (and may have been used in some instances in San Diego) The short answer is that it creates a maintenance problem for many of the aircraft.

Here is the real reason that salt water is avoided: (I quote)

"Can you use sea-water?
Most firefighting aircraft are capable of dropping either salt or fresh water. However, for helicopters that are equipped with bellytanks that use hover-fill pumps, or with buckets on ‘short’ lines, we do tend to prefer to use fresh water if possible. This is to avoid the chance of ingesting salt into the turbine engines, and into some particular parts of the airframe that are susceptible to corrosion – all of which requires substantial extra maintenance at the end of the day. However, in an emergency, any suitable water supply will be used, including sea water, and the extra maintenance will be undertaken. For helicopters equipped with sea-snorkels (allowing the helicopter to maintain forward speed when filling) and buckets on long lines (greater than 100 feet) the use of sea water does not cause such maintenance issues."
From: http://www.nafc.org.au/portal/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=2&tabid=3

Here is a news report from San Diego about an aircraft that was possibly using saltwater:
"San Diego’s fire chief said a Canadian firefighting aircraft, a seaplane that can land on and scoop up fresh or salt water, would join the city’s effort to douse hot spots today."
see: http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20071024/NEWS/710240326/1033/NEWS01

Here is an example of salt water being used by helicopters fighting a fire in Hawaii:
http://cms.firehouse.com/web/online/Wildland-Firefighting/Hawaii-Crews-Keep-Brush-Fire-From-Homes/4$46337

Answer 2

how can we convert salt water to fresh water then dump it on wild fires? just use big trucks
come on people lives are more imprtant than wild life people could lose their homes

Answer 3

Most of the water drops were well inland, and reservoirs were the closest bodies of water. Salt water could certainly be used too, but it would probably be taken from a bay and not the open ocean.

Later edit: I'd like to know why someone gave Dougger and I negative ratings, please send an email explaining why. I don't really think the addition of a little bit of salt to the soil is much of a consideration, unless it's cropland. No one would care if there were a few spots where the chaparral wouldn't grow, and the salt would quickly be flushed from the soil by the first heavy rain anyway .

Answer 4

Salt water will put out fires as well as fresh water.

The scoop filled planes do not use the ocean because the surface constantly changing, surging up and down (waves) and have constantly varying currents. Picking up water at flight speed is pretty risky and going too deep or popping out of the water are both likely to be serious accidents.

Fresh water surfaces are more consistent, safer.

Answer 5

This is 8/3/2015 and there are reportedly 20 major brush and mountain fires burning in California. California's are instructed not conserve water and let your lawns to go brown. We are down to one to two 4 minute showers per week. California farmers have been denied water and are now leaving their farms. In the mist of these fires ocean water is the only option to use. Ocean water tanks should be set up in high fire prone areas accessible to water planes and helicopters. Ocean water is off our shores and should be used for these fires.


D. Fox

Answer 6

Salt water will put out wildfires but will also just do what the fire does best, destroy everything. Salt will destroy plant life and the land will be barren wasteland.

Answer 7

The salt would damage the land. Nothing could grow back.