New 'flying fire engine' helicopters could help stop another Grenfell

A “flying fire engine” that can shoot hundreds of gallons of water and foam into the top floors of tall buildings could help prevent another Grenfell-style disaster, a major London safety conference will be told.

The “Skycannon” system — a water tank with a 7m-long nozzle carried on a Super Puma helicopter — can tackle blazes at heights well beyond the reach of conventional ladders and is already in use in Tokyo.

There are 600 tall buildings in Britain with cladding similar to the material that contributed to the ferocity of the Grenfell inferno.

The highest ladder used in the blaze a year ago, which killed 72 people, could only reach the 10th floor of the 24-storey building.

The helicopter can carry up to 600 gallons of water and 24 gallons of foam, sprayed from the belly of the helicopter.

The Tokyo fire department also has a 10-person rescue gondola that can be attached to a helicopter.

US fire-fighting business Simplex Aerospace will give a presentation about Skycannon at the Firex International conference at Excel in Docklands this week.

A Super Puma costs £20 million, or £3 million second-hand.