There were a number of bushfires burning across the state during the second week of August, and some 870 firefighters and 270 fire trucks supported by 33 water bombing aircraft were tackling the blazes. On 15 August, the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Commissioner declared a bushfire emergency, and a total fire ban was declared for the Sydney, Illawarra and Hunter Valley regions. This was the earliest total fire ban on record for NSW.

The Kingiman bushfire started near Croobyar Road on Saturday 11 August some 10 kilometres west of Ulladulla on the NSW south coast. Early August 15 the fire flared out of control and under the influence of strong north-westerly winds, spread rapidly to the south-east, crossed Woodstock Road and impacted properties west of Burrill Lake. An emergency warning was issued to residents around Woodstock as firefighters fought to bring the fire under control.

By 17 August, the fire had grown to 1,700 hectares and a number of water bombing helicopters were operating on the fire. At about 2.00pm one of the helicopters, which had been operating since early morning with a Bambi bucket suspended beneath it, crashed after the bucket became entangled in trees. Despite on-scene firefighters providing immediate aid, the experienced pilot and sole occupant of the aircraft was unable to be revived.