Image: For illustrative purposes.
A team of CFS volunteers and staff are heading to the United States to assist with the ongoing wildfire crisis in the country’s west.
The eight-member team from South Australia will travel to Boise in Idaho to support firefighting efforts in the Pacific Northwest, particularly in Oregon and Washington. They will join a group of 66 Australian firefighters working with the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) – the US’s key wildland firefighting agency.
This deployment is the first CFS team sent to the US since 2018 and will last up to 40 days. The South Australian team includes:
- 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
- Paul Unsworth, Sector Commander, Sellicks Brigade
- Timothy Buck, Sector Commander, Kangaroo Island
- Damon Whitwell, Sector Commander
- Michael Amos, Sector Commander
Currently, around 100 fires are being managed by NIFC in the Pacific Northwest, with over 80 of these being large, uncontained fires. The conditions in the region vary from desert landscapes to rugged mountains, presenting significant challenges for the firefighters.
The CFS team will be on the front lines as well as in control centres, demonstrating SA’s commitment to supporting international firefighting efforts. This deployment follows three recent missions to Canada involving 12 CFS personnel, making it a total of 20 CFS volunteers and staff deployed abroad this year.
“This is the CFS’ first deployment to the United States since 2018 and we are honoured and privileged to be supporting overseas firefighting agencies during their time of need,” CFS Chief Officer Brett Loughlin said.
“Our CFS personnel will be providing a valuable resource in fighting these fires, but also gaining additional skills that will benefit our communities as we prepare for our own fire danger season.”
“Our emergency service members are answering the call to support their US counterparts and help communities in need,” Minister for Emergency Services Dan Cregan said.
“CFS crews will be battling major fires in challenging conditions while pausing their own lives back home.
“This deployment, and others recently sent to Canada, exemplifies why members’ skills are so valued globally.”
More News
