Following the bushfire crisis that has engulfed Australia in recent months, the Rural Fire Service (RFS) of the state of New South Wales has said “thank you” in perhaps the biggest way possible.

An advert for the RFS has appeared on a 20-metre high electronic billboard in the heart of New York City, the largest in North America. The space in the world famous Times Square was donated to the RFS by US company Silvercast Media.

The animated advert opens with: “Imagine fighting a bush fire higher than this billboard.” Darkened trees are then engulfed by huge flames, giving way to the message: “Thank you to the brave Australian and US firefighters defending Australia. And to the world for all your support.”

Watch video of the enormous bushfire ‘thank you’ note, below:

Also see: Heartwarming images of Aussies saving our animals following the bushfires

“We wanted to say a big ‘thank you’ to the incredible firefighters and community members who have done so much over the last few months,” the RFS said on social media about the billboard.

“It’s been a mammoth effort from firefighters from all agencies, across all states and territories, and from the US, Canada and NZ.

“And when we say a big thank you, we mean big.

“Thanks to a very kind donation of ad space from Silvercast, we’ve taken the message to a 70 foot high billboard in NYC!”

The advert itself was created by Australian ad agency, Wunderman Thompson.