VIC Firefighting Aircraft - Declan Rafter Photography

30/01/2026

For the last few days, a variety of aircraft have been positioned at Colac Airport to assist with the Carlisle River Bushfire threatening Gelibrand.

Some of the more notable Helitaks positioned at Colac consist of:

HELITAK 341 (Christine Helicopter Express, Inc. S64 Skycrane)
HELITAK 342 (Marty Helicopter Express, Inc. S64 Skycrane)
HELITAK 339 (McDermott Aviation Group 214ST)
HELITAK 519 (Aerotech Australia Black hawk)
HELITAK 349 (Kestrel Aviation Super puma)
HELITAK 233 (Touchdown Helicopters Black hawk)

Photographs taken by me.

22/01/2026

Brand new bird on the block!

You may have seen or heard about this blackhawk on the news lately...

Metcalf Helicopters new Blackhawk, VH-8RK conducted its first flight in Australia yesterday at Essendon Airport after its long awaited arrival from the United States.

Today, it recently conducted flood assist operations in Wye River pulling out abandoned cars washed to shore following an extreme flooding event last week.

Looking towards the future, the blackhawk will be engaging in aerial firefighting operations whilst being fitted with a tank.

Big thanks to the team at Metcalf for allowing me to get some amazing photos!

Photographs taken by me.

20/01/2026

C-FIZA (HELITAK 369) operating out of Mansfield Airbase yesterday following working on a fire in the Wonnangatta - Dargo Complex.

This bird is based out of Mansfield and owned by Paton Air and HeliCarrier Helicopters and is currently equipped with a Bambi bucket.

C-FIZA was previously positioned at the Walwa fire supporting crews at Forest Fire Management Victoria but has since returned back to Mansfield.

Images taken by me.

15/01/2026

As a result of Friday the 9th of January’s catastrophic conditions a variety of aircraft were brought down to assist with firefighting.

Some of the most notable being VH-8UL and VH-8HL owned by Aerotech Australia.

Both aircraft are blackhawk helicopters, and are currently positioned in the North Central region of Victoria.

This photograph shows VH-8UL landing into Essendon Airport on Friday.

Unfortunately due to me being interstate I’m currently not able to provide photographs of my own.

This photo was taken by .phot on Instagram.

10/01/2026

08/01/2026

08/01/2026

C-FIZA owned by HeliCarrier Helicopters landing at Albury Airport with some ominous looking smoke from the Walwa bushfire.

There are significant emergency warnings in place currently.

Video taken by on Instagram.

08/01/2026

Victoria is currently facing its most extreme fire conditions since 2019.

As of right now CATASTROPHIC conditions are currently forecast for North Central, Northern Country, Wimmera and South West fire districts for Friday January 9th.

⚠️We urge anyone in a bushfire risk area to enact your bushfire survival plan in preparation for tomorrow.⚠️

Extreme fire danger for the past few days has resulted in many warnings being issued for fires across the state.

The Longwood bushfire still currently burns at emergency warning level at 9,220 hectares. Additionally, the Walwa bushfire in Victoria’s north-east also burns at emergency warning level at 3,400 hectares.

The activity in these fires are set to increase today and tomorrow.

Atmospheric instability will set off the risk of dry lightning and damaging wind gusts from today and tommorrow, possibly creating new fire fronts.

Aircraft have been extremely active these past few days with many being repositioned/dispatched to bushfire risk areas.

As of 11:00 AM today it was confirmed in a media conference that Victoria would be receiving additional aerial firefighting units including a LAT and Blackhawk.

It is possible that aircraft may be grounded due to damaging wind gusts, dry lightning strikes, and extreme heat particularly on Friday.

In these conditions, fires will be uncontrollable.

Please pay close attention to warnings from Vic emergency and the CFA.

Images taken by me.

07/01/2026

A Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating has been currently forecast for Friday 9 January 2026 in the Northern Country, North Central and Wimmera districts. A Catastrophic rating signals the worst possible conditions for grass and bushfires. For your survival, leave bushfire risk areas - if a fire starts and takes hold, lives are likely to be lost.

An Extreme Fire Danger Rating has also been forecast for the remainder of the state. Take action now to protect your life and property.

Stay up to date with warnings and incidents via VicEmergency: www.emergency.vic.gov.au

Fire Danger Ratings are forecast using Bureau of Meteorology data up to four days in advance, but can change on the day. Therefore, it is important to check the Fire Danger Rating for your area every day and know which rating is your trigger to act.

06/01/2026

Stay vigilant, further extreme fire danger bans are forecast later this week. Expect aerial firefighting aircraft to be very active during this period.

A Total Fire Ban has been declared for the Central (includes Melbourne and Geelong), Wimmera and South West Fire Districts - Wednesday 7 January 2026.

No fires can be lit, or be allowed to remain alight, in the open air from 12:01 AM until 11:59 PM. Stay informed: www.cfa.vic.gov.au/firebans

06/01/2026

04/01/2026

‼️⚠️Potentially dangerous fire conditions on Friday 9th of December in Victoria⚠️‼️

I am no weather meteorologist or expert but I feel that I am doing my followers a disservice if I don’t speak on this matter.

There is a possibility for very dangerous fire conditions this Friday in Victoria. Some weather models are indicating 42 degrees with 40 knot winds in Melbourne.

These dangerous winds and extreme temperatures are looking likely to be observed statewide.

If you live in a bushfire prone area, there is absolutely no harm in preparing for a severe bushfire event. Please keep up to date with warnings from the BOM and CFA.

This situation is still developing so hopefully it does not happen. It’s not set in stone, the conditions could change from now and then.