The 71-strong contingent will head to Idaho from Sydney Airport on Sunday.
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So many fires are burning in Washington that managers are taking extreme measures, summoning help from overseas and 200 U.S. troops from a base in Tacoma in the first such use of active-duty soldiers in nine years.
Jones was deployed Friday to help manage the mammoth Clearwater Complex wildfire, which has grown to 64,000 acres and destroyed more than 40 homes and almost 80 buildings.
The dozens of firefighters from Australia and New Zealand were being outfitted to fill a critical shortage of mid-level fire managers such as equipment bosses, strike team leaders and supervisors.
But with the end of the fire season still weeks away, experts say resources are likely to remain sparse.
More than 2.8 million hectares of land have been burnt in the affected regions so far this year.
Lake County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Randy Jones is part of a nationwide response to assist outmanned firefighters battling a devastating fire in Idaho that is sapping firefighting resources in the area.
“Their logistics skills will be in high demand, especially managing aircraft to fight fires and ferry supplies to remote locations”, Kevin O’Connor of New Zealand’s National Rural Fire Authority said in a statement.
Australia and the U.S. have a lot in common when it comes to fire.
“We’re just going to listen and learn as much as possible, but I’m sure there will be similarity and how we do business”, said Marydth Whiteheid, Australian firefighter.
“We’re used to tall timber and steep territory”, Warren Heslip, 47, from Southland, New Zealand, informed the Related Press.
Rogers said the crews were expected to stay in the US for about a month, working up to 14 hours a day for 14 days straight before a two-day break and another 14-day deployment.
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Geranios reported from Spokane, Washington. Three firefighters died on Wednesday during a fast moving wildfire in Washington state.
