The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) today sought the assistance of the Sri Lanka Air Force to douse the major forest fire which broke out in the Hikkagala forest reserve located towards the Northeast of Maduruoya Tank, the SLAF, No. 7 helicopter Squadron stationed at SLAF Base Hingurakgoda deployed one Bell 212 helicopter equipped with Bambi bucket at approximately 1130 hrs on 27th June 2013.

Using water from the Pimburattewa Tank the crew of Bell 212 helicopter battled the fire with the aid of its under slung ‘Bambi bucket’ flying five consecutive sorties and limited the spread of the raging flames the operation was conducted with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Army.