Australia readies for bush fire season with return of Thor As Australia emerges from record-high winter temperatures, the country is preparing for an early start to its bush fire season with the return of the water-dumping aircraft Thor. The Hercules C-130, capable of dropping 15,000 litres of water is back from the United States for a summer that emergency services are warning early will pose a high-risk for bush fires. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES