During the recent Crater Lakes fire, Mount Gambier residents got the chance to see first-hand the important work Aerotech fire bomber pilots perform.

The bombers dropped hundreds of loads of water over the fireground, working with ground crews to extinguish the flames burning in difficult terrain.

Chief Aerotech Pilot Danny Allen said most people were quite fascinated by the work they do.

“In the Adelaide Hills people are used to seeing the red and white airplanes fly over as firebombers during summer where they are used more,” he said.

“Quite often the Lower South East can go years where there is not a lot of action, but all the action seems to be down there this year due to a lack of rain and an abundance of hot weather.”

Aerotech fire bomber pilots are contracted to the Country Fire Service (CFS) and are available every day with 14 bombers based across the state ready to fly to any incident that needs aerial assistance.

Mr Allen said a pager alert would come through to the pilots with a locational bearing and distance from the nearest airstrip.

“In the case of the Crater Lakes fire this was the Mount Gambier airstrip, so pilots responded and it usually takes only three minutes for them to become airborne,” he said.

“Mount Gambier fire bomber pilots respond to any fire that starts in the primary response time, which is located about a 50-mile diameter in the Lower South East.

“Anything that happens including any smoke sighting in that area will be an auto dispatch for the bombers straight out of Mount Gambier.

“They have been busy this year with a few big campaign fires as well as some smaller ones including fires in Coles and of course the Crater Lakes fire.”