[eye30]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24579099

 Bushfires in Australia's New South Wales could merge to form a massive blaze, the fire commissioner has said, as teams battle fires across the state.

Three fires near Lithgow, a city by the Blue Mountains, are thought to be at risk of merging into one fire front.

[Phil №❶]

Time to bring in the big guns.

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[Doggie 1]

Do you guys in the far east use helitacs?
We have them here and they are a great tool.
I thought maybe WA may send ours over but perhaps that might leave us vulnerable here. 

[FatBoy]

So far there are 85 aviation assets being used on the fires in NSW.  A mix of helicopters, fixed wing and supporting vehicles (fuel tankers).

Remember that the aviation assets are not a panacea to the fire problem.  There are many factors which decide when an aircraft would be of use.  Unfortunately, one of them is cost.

[Phil №❶]

I'm sure NSW are throwing everything they've got at this problem.