Water bombing has being used for the first time in a decade in Central Australia to fight a fire that has been burning in the West MacDonnell Ranges since early March.

The blaze has already burnt 100,000 hectares in the region.

Nathaniel Staniford from Bushfires NT said the AS350 B3 helicopter was flown in from Katherine on Wednesday.

“This particular machine is capable of lifting 1,000 litres at a time, so that’s what it was doing yesterday,” he said.

Mr Staniford said the helicopter was used for about 15 water drops onto a fire that was burning on the southern side of the Heavitree Range at Ellery Creek Big Hole.

“We did end up using a helicopter with a bucket and drawing water out of Ellery Creek Big Hole and putting that directly onto the fire,” he said.

Parks shut

The Larapinta Trail is closed and authorities urged the public not to swim in Ellery Creek Big hole.

Mr Staniford said it was disappointing that people ignored that closure.

“It did delay operations by having to clear people out of the swimming hole,” he said.

Mr Staniford said water bombing was rarely effective in extinguishing a fire but was used to control a front.

“We really need to consolidate all of the work that happens with the ground crew,” he said.

“In some of the inaccessible areas, it’s really difficult to get into it.

“So we need to be mindful of where we’re using the helicopter.”

Mr Staniford said the situation was frustrating because fires were starting each day.

“Yesterday, there were multiple ignitions along the roadside on the Tanami Road, up in the Milton Park area,” he said.

“Volunteers and a couple of staff respond there last night to assist the landholders.

“The police also responded, given the fact that there were multiple ignitions on the roadside,.”