A Bell helicopter of No 7 Helicopter Squadron at SLAF Hingurakkgoda was pressed into action late this morning to assist in fighting a forest fire which raged in the Sungawila jungle area close to the Somawathie Chaithya in Pollonnaruwa today (August 02, 2012).

Called in to assist by the Disaster Management Center, the Bell 212 completed six Bambi Bucket runs over the fire, dumping nine hundred litres of water on each run, in the morning and after refuelling completed seven more such Bambi bucket runs in the afternoon. The fire was reportedly under control at the time the helicopter vacated the location.