Fighting fire from the air – a busy time for Air Zermatt
Neverending heat, parched soil and a lack of rain all increase the risk of forest fires and wildfires. This summer, Air Zermatt has been especially busy assisting the fire departments in areas where terrain is hard to access and response within minutes is vital.
Lightning, a discarded cigarette butt, or a technical malfunction is all it takes. If the vegetation is dry, a fire can spread in no time. Especially in steep and rough terrain, rescue teams on the ground soon reach their limits, and this is when firefighting from the air comes into its own.
In Valais, the basic rule when it comes to forest fires is that as soon as any smoke is spotted, it’s time to call for a helicopter. The quicker the water is directed straight into the source of the fire, the bigger the chance of containing the flames and stopping them from spreading to other forested or residential areas, or critical infrastructure.
More callouts than the whole of last year
The figures show just how serious the situation has been this summer – Air Zermatt has already been called out to more than two dozen wildfires in 2026. This also includes flights taken to give dispatchers and crews an accurate picture of the situation from the air. There have also been five emergency drills to prepare for a range of eventualities. In comparison, Air Zermatt was called out to a total of 15 fire situations in the whole of 2025.
The rapid and coordinated action by of all the organizations involved has made sure that nothing terrible has happened so far. The helicopters don’t put out the fires on their own – they assist the fire departments on the ground, transporting water to inaccessible areas and providing the dispatchers with an overview of the fire scene.
Flight schedules rearranged in the event of an emergency
Whenever helicopter assistance is needed, Air Zermatt is dispatched by the Valais cantonal rescue organization (KWRO) or the cantonal police. The crews are on standby night and day so they can respond right away and get on with the job of fighting a fire from the air.
If a fire alarm is triggered during the day, the flight schedules are rearranged without hesitation, with cargo flights being rescheduled and tourist flights canceled. Right at that moment, protecting people, residential areas, and nature takes priority. And Air Zermatt can be sure that its customers and guests will understand.
Whenever a helicopter is involved in fighting a fire, precise coordination of both the maneuvering in the air and the work on the ground is vital. An Air Zermatt dispatcher is appointed to direct the actions of the helicopter. If no more than two helicopters are involved, one of the pilots can do this instead. But with more than two helicopters, a dispatcher will be responsible for coordinating them from the ground. Here, close collaboration with the fire department’s incident commander is essential.
"In 2023, Air Zermatt became the first helicopter company in Europe to be authorized to start firefighting operations at night."
Up to 1,000 liters of water in three seconds
Air Zermatt has six Ecureuil helicopters and three Bell 429s for firefighting. The choice between the two models depends on the location, the time of day, and the requirements on site.
The helicopters can be equipped with ‘Bambi Buckets’, flexible water tanks that can be transported to the scene of the fire on board, assembled quickly, and used to hold up to 900 liters of water.
Depending on the situation, a pneumatic fire suppression system developed by Air Zermatt can also be used. With a capacity of up to 1,000 liters, it can discharge the entire volume of water over the source of the fire in about three seconds.
But it’s not just the amount of water that matters – the time between each release is just as important. The shorter the rotation time, the more water can reach the fire in just a few minutes. And this is why water supply points near the fire are used whenever possible, or mobile water tanks are set up.
With a rotation time of about three minutes, two Ecureuil helicopters can fly the same circuit. This allows for around 6,800 liters of water to be transported into the forest in twelve minutes. How long a rotation actually takes depends on aspects like the distance to the water source, altitudes, wind, and other flight conditions.
New solutions based on real-life situations
Air Zermatt has been helping to fight fires from the air for decades. Back in 1970, two years after the company was founded, there was a callout to a forest fire in Thelwald. At the time, the main job was to get the firefighters as close to the source of the fire as possible.
But there have been a lot of changes in procedures and resources since then. After Air Zermatt took the initiative, innovations like helicopter buckets and the first mobile water tanks were developed. These mobile tanks can be set up near a fire and are invaluable when it comes to shortening the distance between the water source and the fire.
In collaboration with fire departments in the Upper Valais region, Air Zermatt also developed a special filling pipe that can be used to fill rigid or flexible buckets in about 20 seconds. The system is used in particular in cases where water tankers can transport water close to the fire but an open water source isn’t an option.
The insights from each operation are used when it comes to developing the systems as time goes on. Just recently, Air Zermatt invested more than 50,000 Swiss francs in additional mobile water tanks and water containers.
Nighttime firefighting
Fires that break out after dark pose a particular challenge. In 2023, Air Zermatt became the first helicopter company in Europe to be authorized to start firefighting operations at night. Before this, only those that had already begun during the day were allowed to continue after dark.
In collaboration with the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA), Air Zermatt developed a comprehensive operational plan for this purpose. Especially when it comes to fires in protection forests, being able to respond immediately at night can be crucial. This prevents a fire from spreading unchecked for several hours and putting people, residential areas, or transportation routes at risk.
Private drones endanger operations
Private drones pose a growing threat. If an uncoordinated drone flies within the area of operation, this creates a risk of collision for the helicopters. There have been cases where firefighting operations had to be stopped and helicopters kept on the ground.
But there’s no doubt that drones can be very helpful during a forest fire. As part of the Valais fire departments’ cantonal drone strategy, for example, thermal imaging cameras are used to detect smoldering embers. These flights must be carefully coordinated with the helicopter crews, however. Simply put, uncoordinated private drones should keep well away from any fire area.
Working together against fire
Firefighting from the air is all about teamwork. Pilots, task specialists, firefighters, dispatchers, police, and the cantonal rescue organization KWRO must work closely together. Every water release must be precise, every flight movement coordinated, and every situation continuously reassessed.
Air Zermatt’s helicopters can’t extinguish a fire on their own. But they can deliver water to where it’s needed most, buying valuable time for the emergency services and assisting firefighters in the most challenging terrain. Especially in dry summers like this one, a head start can be crucial.
