The Rural Fire Service (RFS) has confirmed that a pilot died when his water-bombing aircraft crashed in southern New South Wales this morning.

The RFS says the pilot, 43, was killed when his waterbomber - thought to be a Dromader - went down west of Ulladulla.

The plane was involved in fire-fighting operations, and it is believed a wing snapped off the aircraft before the crash.

Fires in the Blue Mountains have again been the focus of fire-fighting efforts, with the so-called State Mine fire and the blaze at Mount Victoria causing the most trouble for firefighters.

Meanwhile, the Acting Chief of the Defence Force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin, has apologised over the State Mine fire near Lithgow, which was sparked by a live-fire exercise at the Marrangaroo Army Range last Wednesday.

Look back at how the day unfolded on our blog.