Capt Notar,
The Bambi bucket has no control over the release speed, although the new Tarantula valve allows part loads to be dropped. A hover drop, which you may have seen, puts the load down on one spot, and will be used for smokers, small spotovers, foliage penetration or cooling a hot spot. Other drops can be made at varying speeds and heights to give a greater coverage, eg grass fires or flame lines. If a firesock is added to the Bambi it will aerate the foam mix, and give better and greater suppression.
IFR is not an option.
Smoke masks/respirators are unheard of, you just choke and get on with it.
Water is taken from anywhere available, hopefully with enough room to get out with a good load, and as near as possible to the drop point. Swimming pools look good on TV, but are fraught with danger. Loose backyard furniture, power lines, inatention when the goofers come out, all can spoil your day big time. In remote areas, buoywalls are put in and filled from road tankers. Absolute PITA to use, since they are relatively small, and the bambi is put in usually by reference through the cargo mirror. Akin to threading a needle using a mirror and boxing gloves!