The Marrangaroo Army Depot will be the overnight focus as six helicopters, currently deployed to fight bushfires in the Glen Davis region, are bedded down overnight.

Insp Ian Jackson, from the Lithgow Rural Fire Services, said a secure location is needed overnight for both the helicopters and firefighting crews.

Operations during the day will be carried out from a base on the old trotting track at Glen Davis.

However, the helicopters will only be operating a “bucket drop” on the fires, with no sky crane being utilised at present.

The main focus of the Glen Davis operations will be the Mt Iris fire, burning close to the Glen Davis village.

However, there are six others that will also be targetted by the helicopters, including fires at Mt Morgan, along the Wolgan River and at Bungleboori as well as smaller operations around Rylstone and along Upper Nile Road.

Insp Jackson said while conditions were fairly mild yesterday, further hot weather and low humidity is expected today and for the weekend.

The bushfires have been declared a Section 44 situation, allowing the Federal Government to offer assistance.

Attorney-General Robert McClelland has approved further assistance to the New South Wales Government under the Australian Government Disaster Response Plan.

He said the additional assistance will support New South Wales aerial fire fighting operations by providing access to the Marrangaroo Army Deport.

“The depot has been requested by New South Wales as it will provide the best accommodation and operating facilities within the immediate area of the fires in the remote Lithgow and Mid Western areas.

“The Government stands ready to provide any further assistance that the NSW Government requires in response to these bushfires,” Mr McClelland said.

The State is currently experiencing significant bushfire activity, with 79 bushfires burning and a number of bushfire emergencies declared by the Commissioner for the Rural Fire Service.

These bushfires are expected to burn for a number of weeks until satisfactory containment is achieved.

The Rural Fire Service currently has 45 aircraft active across the State with an additional 22 aircraft on standby.

Aviation operations are expected to continue for up to 14 days pending containment of the fires.

The Australian Government provided the New South Wales Rural Fire Service with access to Richmond Royal Australian Air Force Base to assist the fire fighting effort last Friday.