(Video) Aerial firefighting in Portugal

I have to sympathize with the professional fire-fighting service for their bitter opposition to the introduction of amphibious aircraft into the fire-fighting business.
Yes - fire-fighting is a business. As some of you are aware, the Canadians offered a trial use of their incredible "big twin" fire fighting amphbis. to a govt. fire fighting service in So. California, for FREE ! The offer was rejected for obvious reasons - a few of those fire-fighting amphib. aircraft and you could cut down the size of an established professional fire-fighting administration by a substantial amount. The ability of a few amphbi. fire-fighting amphibs to scoop up water and get it to a fire scene BEFORE the fire becomes an all-consuming disaster (that DOES require a major investment in ground personnel) is certainly a threat they don't want publisized.