For the first time since 2010, the US federal government has deployed a team of 100 American firefighters to help with the emergency response crews in Australiaâand they are deploying several dozen more volunteer firefighters this week, according to The Los Angeles Times.
Due to extended drought combined with hot and dry weather conditions, Australia has been experiencing devastating bushfiresâparticularly in the states of New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoriaâsince August.
The US firefightersâmany of whom were part of the firefighting teams in Californiaâ have been deployed in several separate teams over the course of the last 30 days. The international relief mission is part of the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), the nationâs support center for wildland firefighting. Based out of Boise, the coalition is made up of eight different agencies and organizations including, the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, National Weather Service, U.S. Fire Administration, and the National Association of State Foresters.
âWeâre sending a contingent from several federal agencies that reflects decades of fire management experience,â said U.S. Forest Service Fire Director Shawna Legarza. âWe face many of the same firefighting challenges in each country. Weâve utilized their expertise in the past and welcome the opportunity to reciprocate.â
The US is not the only country sending aid to Australia, eitherâCanada has also sent several teams of wildfire specialists as well, bringing their total amount of volunteers to 87.
According to CBC, this is the first time that Canada has deployed firefighting assistance to Australia, although Canada also benefitted from the firefighting teams of Down Under during the devastating British Columbian wildfires in 2017 and 2018.
Source : GNN
