[ELI5] How do fire helicopters get permission to take water from private swimming pools?
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That water in your pool probably costs less than $50
Most people shouldn’t go swimming during a forest fire anyway.
$50 for the sake of saving entire homes/habitats
Many fire-prone states have laws that give firefighters (including aerial tankers and helicopters) unfettered legal access to any water supply that they need… and if you try to interfere with, or prevent them from, taking the water, you will be the one charged with a crime.
They don’t need it. Many states have laws that allow firefighters access to ANY water supply without having to seek permission. Simply put, by law they already have permission to take the water in your pool and you are forbidden to stop them.
They don’t. When bushfires happen round here they can take from pools and dams. They issue public notices saying if it happens, there’s a gauge that records the amount of water taken and that it’ll get replaced. (Australia)
Depending on the country, emergency services and police have a extended access to resources in case of emergency. They can do speeding, can make noise in the middle of the night, can cut a forest on their own will, they can trespass any land and destroy any property if needed. They can fly in no fly zones, disturb air traffic, they can fly against what the aviation rules are.
All of this as long as the emergency type do really require it and they are punished if they abuse it.
Taking water from pool is not the weirdest thing they can do.
The laws rule that as long as the emergency needs a resource, they can take it. The state will refund the eventual damage in reasonable cases.
All of this is pre-authorized. They have a list of things they can or cannot do for each case.
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