A majority of wildfires in the US are in the Northwest, leaving local resources stretched thin. National Interagency Fire Center called on Australian and New Zealand firefighters for help during this busy fire season.
( Below is the transcript from the broadcast story)
“We have Crews going to Oregon and Washington state and they’re being deployed to four different fires,” said Brendon Grylls with Fire And Emergency New Zealand.
Around 70 firefighters from Australia and New Zealand are traveling to Boise during their off-season to help fight wildfires. While they’re all experienced in their own countries, they learn how to navigate the Northwest and high desert terrain, and how to use firefighting tools specific to the area.
“The training today is basic training, using blankets, radios, [learning] different terminology, and generally any other information they may need out in the field,” said Grylls.
The international firefighters tell me this is the first time in recent years they’ve needed to come assist the states.