The Indian Air Force (IAF) recently concluded a significant firefighting operation in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, where four Mi-17 V5 helicopters conducted over 150 sorties, dropping approximately 62,500 liters of water to combat a forest fire threatening military and residential areas. The operation, which lasted more than 27 hours, involved collaboration among the IAF, army, forest department, and local administration. The fire, exacerbated by dry vegetation and strong winds, began around 3 PM on Tuesday, prompting a rapid response from the Army's Kasauli Brigade. The IAF utilized 'Bambi Buckets', a collapsible firefighting system that allows helicopters to fill water from local sources like Sukhna Lake and perform precise drops over fire-affected areas. This technique, created by Canadian designer Don Arney in 1978, is now employed in over 100 countries for wildfire suppression. The IAF's use of helicopters is particularly effective in mountainous terrains where traditional firefighting methods may struggle, as they can hover and deliver targeted water drops directly onto hotspots.