A WATERSKIER on the Abercrombie River had a close encounter with an Erickson Sky-Crane helitanker on Monday afternoon.
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The aircraft was taking on water before heading off to help fight the Hells Hole bushfire currently burning west of Trunkey Creek.
The aerial giant was refilling in Wyangala Dam backwaters and provided an amazing spectacle for the skier and boat as it came in to the river for water supplies.
Similar firefighting aircraft have been spotted across the central west in recent weeks, incuding one at Cowra airport.
It’s unclear if this one was the famous 'Elvis' helitanker that captured the imagination of the Australia public in previous years fighting fires, but it sure provided jaw dropping entertainment for the skiers.
On Monday NSW Rural Fire Service, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Forestry Corporation NSW firefighters, with the assistance of water bombing aircraft and heavy machinery, continued to mop up the active edges of the Hells Hole fire.
A helicopter using a “Forward looking infrared” (FLIR) camera is being used to pinpoint any hotspots in close proximity to containment lines and the interior of the fire ground.
The locations identified are tasked to firefighting crews and waterbombing aircraft to extinguish.
