The NSW Rural Fire Service has carried out its first night-time water-bombing operation in what is a potential "game changer" for fighting fires. The agency's CH-47D Chinook helicopter was deployed this week to the Genowlan Road Fire at Glen Alice, near Lithgow. The water-bombing helicopter dropped almost 200,000 litres of water across 27 night-time flights this week. "Overnight weather patterns often see fire activity ease considerably and that's giving firefighters a critical window," NSW RFS

🔥Target acquired 🔥 Precision is key in aerial firefighting💪🧑‍🚒. Ahead of the upcoming bushfire season, our aviation crews practised essential firefighting skills in Mogo, on the NSW south coast near Batemans Bay. Our pilots, aircrew and aviation specialists carried out emergency exercises including water bucketing, which involves scooping water into a huge ‘bucket’ suspended from a helicopter and releasing it over a target. This technique helps suppress flames to slow fire spread and assist

The #NSWRFS has several helicopters currently deployed throughout the state assisting the NSW SES with flood operations. Our helicopters are supporting crews and communities on the ground, by conducting reconnaissance and transporting sandbags and supplies. Yesterday, crews used one of the helicopters to rapidly deploy sandbags after a breach was detected in one of the levees. | NSW Rural Fire Service