A Bell 412 helicopter from No. 04 Squadron at SLAF Ratmalana was deployed  this evening (28th December 2013) around 05.00 pm to assist in retarding the spread of a forest fire which erupted  in the Hantana area at the Kandy District.
 
Using water from Polgolla Tank, the crew of Bell 412 helicopter battled the fire with the aid of its under slung ‘Bambi bucket’ flying 03 consecutive sorties and limited the spread of the raging fire close to University of Peradeniya. The SLAF was requested to assist by the Disaster Management Center.