Helicopter crashes during Australia bushfire operation

A helicopter crashed while fighting a bushfire in rrn Australia on Wednesday and pilot mand to survive with only mir injuries, officials said.

" helicopter crashed during waterbombing operations at Pechey fire today," a Queensland Fire and Emergency Service spokesperson told AFP.

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Injured pilot transferred to hospital

A rescue helicopter was sent to scene and pilot was treated for mir injuries, a Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman told AFP. "We transported one male with n-life-threatening injuries to Toowoomba Hospital," spokesman said. pilot is w in a stable condition. bushfire at Pechey, rth of Toowoomba, was sparked on Tuesday and is "getting worse", according to fire service. Firefighters on ground have been battling blaze with support from aerial waterbombers.

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Queensland on high alert, 70 fires in State

Queensland is on high alert amid severe fire conditions, with a forecast wind change expected to worsen several large blazes in difficult-to-access areas of state. About 70 fires are burning in state, with Pechey residents told safest option is to leave area as conditions are currently too dangerous. Dozens of fires are also ablaze in neighboring New South Wales state, where cooler sourly winds have eased conditions and brought relief to firefighters and residents. Difficult conditions were expected to flare again at weekend as temperature rises and winds pick up. 

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