For the first time this bushfire season, the Rural Fire Service yesterday stationed a remote aerial response helicopter at Tamworth airport following a number of fires across the region.

The helicopter team from Sydney and four volunteer firefighters from Tamworth were on standby at the airport yesterday waiting to be tasked to remote fires across the district.

The team is led by operations officer Simon Topp who described the helicopters as “fire trucks that fly.”

“The reason we’re here is because of the elevated fire danger for the region, and also if there are any remote fires,” he said.

“Those fires are usually started by lightning strikes and when we have those fires they’re not always that easy to get to. They’re often on ridge tops in remote parts where there’s no access trails or roads.”

The crews tasked to fly in the helicopter are trained and equipped with winching equipment which enables them to control fires in those hard to reach areas.

The helicopter is also equipped with a bucket which enables them to back up the ground crews by releasing water from the air and onto the fire.

The aircraft is able to winch from 76m and lift 1000kg.

As the weather heats up Mr Topp said we could expect to see the aircraft back in the area – with it averaging between five to 15 visits per year.

“We’d like to think of this as a proactive approach to dealing with fires as apposed to waiting for one to start and then arranging the resources,” he said.

“We’re looking at having it ready so we can get onto it as quickly as possible.

“We haven’t got plans to remain here throughout the week at this point but when the weather reaches our triggers we’ll bring one up again.”