Handy
I dread to think what the temperature was just above the flats. I don't think hovering a helicopter above that block would have been feasible.
I have hovered drone helicopters very close to raging fires, including buildings.
The airflow through the rotors has a cooling effect to the fuselage especially if hovering in clean air on the upwind side of the building or just to one side.
The downwash can fan the fire but this is usually insignificant in comparison to a fuel fed raging fire.
Perhaps in the future the fire and rescue services could look at what may be done with a bamby bucket at least.