![](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210427-by-johnpearsonco-icelandic-coast-guard-001-lo-res-001.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&quality=99&ssl=1 )
Iceland has no armed forces, but the nation’s coast guard often steps into the gap to undertake certain specialist tasks. One of those is fighting fires from a helicopter using a large container—known as a “bambi bucket”—slung underneath to drop water on the flames.
We joined a coast guard helicopter crew at their Reykjavík base and hitched a ride to Skorradalsvatn, a lake in the west of the country, to watch them tackle a fire-fighting training exercise.
Click on each pic for full effect…
Flight Preparations
![20210427_by_johnpearson.co_Icelandic_Coast_Guard_002_Lo_Res_002 Chief pilot Sigurður Wiium briefs pilots Brynhildur Bjartmarz and Haukur Harðarson - photo by John Pearson](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210427-by-johnpearsonco-icelandic-coast-guard-002-lo-res-002.jpg?w=401&h=267&quality=99&ssl=1)
Cockpit Control
![20210427_by_johnpearson.co_Icelandic_Coast_Guard_005_Lo_Res_002 There is no shortage of controls and instruments - photo by John Pearson](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210427-by-johnpearsonco-icelandic-coast-guard-005-lo-res-002.jpg?w=314&h=210&quality=99&ssl=1)
Airborne Over Reykjavík
![20210427_by_johnpearson.co_Icelandic_Coast_Guard_007_Lo_Res_005 Over the rooftops of Reykjavík - photo by John Pearson](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210427-by-johnpearsonco-icelandic-coast-guard-007-lo-res-005.jpg?w=314&h=210&quality=99&ssl=1)
Field Exercises
![20210427_by_johnpearson.co_Icelandic_Coast_Guard_014_Lo_Res_007 A lakeside landing to rig the bambi bucket - photo by John Pearson](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210427-by-johnpearsonco-icelandic-coast-guard-014-lo-res-007.jpg?w=401&h=267&quality=99&ssl=1)
Firefighting From Above
![20210427_by_johnpearson.co_Icelandic_Coast_Guard_016_Lo_Res_009 Photo by John Pearson](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210427-by-johnpearsonco-icelandic-coast-guard-016-lo-res-009.jpg?w=206&h=274&quality=99&ssl=1)
Stowing Bambi
![20210427_by_johnpearson.co_Icelandic_Coast_Guard_BB_001_Lo_Res_001 Derigged and back in its bag, the bambi buckets weighs 120kg - photo by John Pearson](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210427-by-johnpearsonco-icelandic-coast-guard-bb-001-lo-res-001.jpg?w=401&h=267&quality=99&ssl=1)
Debrief And Return
![20210427_by_johnpearson.co_Icelandic_Coast_Guard_018_Lo_Res_009 A quick post-drill debrief before Haukur flies us home - photo by John Pearson](https://i0.wp.com/grapevine.is/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20210427-by-johnpearsonco-icelandic-coast-guard-018-lo-res-009.jpg?w=401&h=267&quality=99&ssl=1)
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