Abstract: A ground and airborne system and method for fighting high rise building fires uses a ground based pump such as a mobile pumper vehicle with its inlet connected to a source of fire retardant material such as water. A rotary wing aircraft is provided with another pump, the inlet of which is connected to the outlet of the pumper through a flexible hose. The aircraft carries one or two extendable booms with nozzles affixed to the ends thereof. The booms are connected to the outlet of the airborne pump. The aircraft is manuevered to the floor at which the fire is located. The boom or booms are extended beyond the rotor tips and the ground and airborne pumps are operated to direct water into the floor at which the fire is located to extinguish or contain the fire until a fire crew can arrive at the scene.