AS PILOT David Black headed to the state's South Coast to help the Rural Fire Service with firefighting efforts, his wife Julie posted a message "safe flying today, everyone" on Facebook.

But tragically, the Trangie father-of-three was killed yesterday, becoming the second victim of the Red October bushfires when the fixed-wing aircraft he was using to help with waterbombing crashed in rugged bushland west of Ulladulla.

media_camera Loss of waterbomber pilot a 'tragedy'

A wing is believed to have snapped off the M-18 Dromader aircraft, causing it to plunge into a remote section of the Budawang National Park about 10am.

Mr Black, 43, was the owner of Rebel Agricultural in Trangie, from where the aircraft had been hired on behalf of the RFS. It was one of Rebel's two aircraft helping with the fires in the Wirrittin Mountain area.

Paramedics were winched into the crash site and confirmed the pilot, the only person on board, was deceased.

media_camera The rugged area where the waterbomber crashed.

media_camera The pilot was a long way from his home in Trangie.

Other waterbombing aircraft were called in to the crash site in an attempt to douse the fire there.

The M18A Dromader has previously been investigated for an in-flight wing collapse after a crop sprayer involved in a 2008 fatal crash in rural NSW had lost part of its right wing. The outcome was inconclusive.

Mr Black's body was due to be retrieved from the wreckage overnight.

RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons last night paid tribute to Mr Black, a true hero of the bushfires.

''It's a tragedy for the fire-fighting community but first and foremost it's a tragedy for this man's family,'' he said.

''He's a husband with young children and we're all acutely aware there's a family suffering today because their dad didn't come home.''

media_camera The rugged country near Ulladulla where the plane went down.

On his Facebook page, Mr Black recently posted a phrase about the fragility of life. "Life is short, break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile," Mr Black wrote.

Air Safety Transport Bureau inspectors were on their way to the crash site last night to investigate.

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell said the pilot's death highlighted the danger all emergency service personnel faced every day while protecting the community.

"They put themselves in danger on our behalf and we are all truly grateful. This loss will be a particular blow to the brave men and women who have worked so hard saving property and protecting lives during this crisis," Mr O'Farrell said.

The Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) can confirm the crash of an aircraft a short time ago, west of Ulladulla. Details - http://t.co/sHdoSf7Uez — NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) October 23, 2013

Meanwhile, yesterday's show of force by RFS and NSW Fire & Rescue crews in the Blue Mountains and Lake Macquarie, together with strategic backburning, helped save properties despite another day of hot, windy conditions.

But it wasn't all easy going. Just when Blue Mountains residents thought the worst was over, emergency warnings had to be issued yet again to communities around Bells Line Rd.

The RFS sent out emergency alerts to residents about 3pm after the fire there raged out of control. The State Mine and Mt Victoria fires, which linked up yesterday, have burnt more than 52,500ha of bush - more than 20 times the size of the City of Sydney local government area.

At Lake Macquarie, firefighters had to sprint to extinguish spot fires flaring up along Ocean St in Dudley, where flames licked the back fences of million-dollar properties on Wednesday night. If not for the drastic action of waterbombinging helicopters and firefighting strike teams, residents along that stretch would likely be homeless this weekend.

The Lake Macquarie fire had earlier been downgraded to "advice" status, but strong winds prompted authorities to elevate its seriousness yet again by mid-morning.

A nursing home at Redhead seemed destined for evacuation as the front pushed through scrub towards its perimeter. But constant bombardment from helicopters filling their buckets from nearby Dudley Lagoon helped stymie its advance.