1.
CU BUCKET -- PEOPLE LOOKING (THREE SHOTS)
0.12

2.
LS MODEL HUTS BEING ON WAY TO FIRE SCENE
0.17

3.
MS HELICOPTER WITH BUCKET ON WAY TO FIRE SCENE
0.22

4.
LS HUTS AFLAME
0.25

5.
LS HELICOPTER SPRAYING WATER ON BURNING HUTS
0.40

6.
CU FIRE ENGINE ARRIVES
0.43

7.
CU FIREMEN IN ACTION
0.52



Initials CAR/VS/MK/YA/CHM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: FIRE OUTBREAKS IN VIETNAM ARE NO LONGER A CAUSE FOR PANIC. THANKS TO THE AMERICAN FOR BORROWING AN IDEA FROM THE UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE.

ALL THAT IS REQUIRED ARE A FIBREGLASS BUCKET WITH A CAPACITY OF 450 GALLONS AND A HELICOPTER.

TO DEMONSTRATE ITS EFFECTS, MODEL HUTS WERE SET AFLAME. THESE HUTS ARE TYPICAL OF THOSE SEEN IN SAIGON AND CHOLON WHICH WERE DESTROYED BY A SERIES OF FIRES DURING THE VEITCONG'S JANUARY AND MAY OFFENSIVE.

THIS IS HOW IT WORKS: THE BUCKET IS CARRIED BY THE HELICOPTER AND DROPPED INTO THE NEAREST WATER SUPPLY. THE BUCKET'S ELECTRIC DOORS CLOSE AND THE HELICOPTER ??? FOR THE FIRE SCENE WHERE IT HOVERS AT A HEIGHT OF 200 FEET AND AT A FORWARD SPEED OF FIVE TO 10 MILES AN HOUR. THE PILOT OPENS THE DOOR OF THE BUCKET AND THE WATER FALL ON TARGET. ONE OR TWO BUCKETS OF VARYING CAPACITY CAN BE CARRIED DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE HELICOPTER.

WHAT IF THE PILOT MISSES? WELL, SAID AN OFFICIAL, HE WILL AT LEAST SOAK NEIGHBOURING HOUSES AND PREVENT THE FIRE FROM SPREADING. HOWEVER, THE FALL OF THE WATER IS NOT DANGEROUS, BEING ABOUT AS HEAVY AS A TROPICAL RAINSTORM.

IN THE EVENT OF A BIG BLAZE, FIRE ENGINES CAN ALSO BE CALLED IN FOR SUPPORT.