A pilot battling the New South Wales bushfires has been rushed to hospital after the waterbomber helicopter he was flying crashed north of Sydney on Saturday morning.
The chopper was being used to help the Rural Fire Service fight the Jarrah Road fire, about 90km north of Newcastle when the accident occurred.
A Rural Fire Service spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the helicopter had a "hard landing" and caught fire during the crash.
"The aircraft suffered a hard landing, which caused a fire in the engine which emergency crews are now tending to," the spokesperson said.
"As a result, all aircrafts in the area have been grounded to undergo routine safety checks."
Images taken by 7News shows the helicopter lying on the ground, surrounded by scorched and burnt grass.
The pilot, who was the only person on board, was uninjured. He has been taken to hospital.
Fires have broken out across the length of New South Wales, so large and fierce they're putting firefighters in serious peril.
On Thursday night in Orangeville in New South Wales, there were fire tornadoes and rain of embers. In the face of such fury, even fire-fighters ran.
Some fires are as big as the city of Sydney and they burn to its north, west and south.
"We have also seen the fire is coming to very close proximity to major population centres, whether it is on the south coast, the Central Coast, or even greater western Sydney," said NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
At Mangrove Mountain north of Sydney residents watched as the flames moved in.
"It's like someone ripping your heart off, that's how you feel at the moment, but what do you do? That's life," said resident Joseph Galea.
Dust and smoke from the fires has been driving across the Tasman to New Zealand, causing stunning sunsets and problems for people sensitive to allergens.
"Those suffering from asthma and allergies may be affected by the smoke in both Australia and NZ and closing doors and windows may help," WeatherWatch says.
