A dedicated team of volunteers and staff from the Country Fire Service (CFS) has returned to South Australia after spending over a month battling wildfires in the United States. Their 35-day mission involved assisting with major fires in the Pacific Northwest, specifically across Oregon and Washington.
The eight-member team, consisting of five volunteers, two staff members, and one employee from the Department for Environment and Water, joined a group of 66 Australian firefighters supporting the National Interagency Fire Centre – the US’s main wildland firefighting agency.
Amid extreme heat, dryness, and strong winds, South Australia’s skilled firefighters took on crucial roles both on the front lines and in control centres. The ongoing drought has significantly increased the risk of fires in the region’s forests and grasslands.
The CFS team, the first from South Australia to be deployed to the US since 2018, included:
- Malcolm Biscoe, Strike Team Leader, Goolwa Brigade
- Anthony Casey, Strike Team Leader, Peterborough Brigade
- Justin Baxter, Strike Team Leader, Kadina Brigade
- Garry Jungfer, Strike Team Leader, Angaston Brigade
- Timothy Buck, Sector Commander, Kangaroo Island
- Damon Whitwell, Sector Commander
- Michael Amos, Sector Commander
“My heartfelt thanks to all CFS personnel recently deployed to the USA and Canada for their hard work, bravery, and dedication to help these communities during their time of need,” CFS Chief Officer Brett Loughlin said.
“Deployments can also be long and challenging for families and loved ones and I want to extend a special thanks for their support and understanding.”
Their return follows three previous deployments to Canada in July and August, where CFS teams assisted in British Columbia and Alberta. All four international groups have now come back, and the CFS will continue to provide support and care for their members.
Since July 2024, South Australia has sent a total of 12 CFS volunteers, three staff members, and five Department for Environment and Water personnel to Canada and the US. It shows the state’s dedication to helping fight fires worldwide and the strong global partnerships, as seen when South Australia received support from US and Canadian aviation crews during the 2019/2020 fire season.
More News
