More overseas deployments are not expected to affect domestic preparations as NSW and New Zealand send more firefighters to North America.
An RAAF Globemaster carrying two NSW Rural Fire Service helicopters and a 24-strong support crew has just flown out to France while the NSW RFS’s converted Boeing 737 aerial tanker is dropping retardant on fires in the US.
Crews from NSW’s RFS, National Parks and Wildlife Service and State Emergency Service recently headed to the US, another group just left for Canada and a third group is due to head off to the US on August 11.
(NZ is sending a group to Canada and has received a US request for more crews; see below).
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MORE OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENTS ‘PLANNED’
Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib says the overseas deployments were planned out so the state remains prepared for the new fire season.
“We’ve carefully planned these deployments to ensure NSW remains well prepared for the season ahead while continuing to support countries facing devastating wildfire conditions,” he says.
“NSW has earned an international reputation for bush fire management and we’re proud to support communities overseas when they need assistance most.”
NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Trent Curtin says their French deployment is “historic”.
“This … (marks) the first time we’ve been called upon to assist in Europe and the first time aerial firefighting aircraft with night-time waterbombing capability will operate in France,” he says.
“Firefighters understand that bush fires don’t stop at borders.
“We’ve always been willing to help when we’re able, just as others have supported us in the past,” Curtin says
“Communities across Europe, the US and Canada have endured an incredibly difficult fire season.”
The Australian Defence Force is helping with the rapid deployment of personnel, aircraft and equipment via airlifts and planning.
NZ SENDS SECOND GROUP AS THIRD REQUEST ARRIVES
Meanwhile, Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) is sending six incident management specialists to Canada as part of an Australasian team.
The decision follows a request from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre made under a long-standing mutual aid agreement between Canada, the US, Australia and New Zealand.
The new Kiwi group will help lead responses to fires in British Columbia as Canada battles up to 484 active bushfires with over two million hectares burnt.
A five-strong NZ group is already in Idaho and FENZ says that an early request for a second group for the US has been received.
FENZ Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler says their support will not diminish its domestic capability with other agencies like Conservation, NZ Defence and forestry industry also sending staff.
“Our people bring back valuable experience that enhances New Zealand’s capability to manage large-scale incidents,” Stiffler says.
“Given the predictions for a challenging fire season here, these opportunities to be part of wildfire management in Canada and the US couldn’t be more timely.”
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