The worldwide firefighters are joining efforts in the U.S. because resources are stretched thin due to the number and severity of fires burning across several states.
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In Idaho, firefighters planned to hold and secure fire lines against a group of fires burning in timber a couple miles from the northern Idaho town of Kamiah.
Some of the fires were so large they could be seen on satellite imaging, according to Mashable.
President Barack Obama has declared a state of emergency in Washington state, where more than a dozen fires are burning.
NIFC said assistance from Australia and New Zealand is a good fit primarily because their fire organizations are very similar to the United States national fire organization in training requirements and structure.
Mr Ellis, from Kangaroo Island, said American and Canadian firefighters have travelled to Australia during bushfires in recent years.
“The fire has improved since yesterday, and it’s improved since Saturday, which is a good thing”, he said.
“These new assets will provide an incredible assist for our firefighters throughout Eastern Washington”, Inslee said.
His office was investigating the scene Thursday, then will turn it over to federal investigators, who will try to determine how the fire overran the firefighters.
Three others – Tom Zbyszewski, Andrew Zajac and Rick Wheeler – died as the flames suddenly changned direction and overtook their U.S. Forest Service vehicle, a small wildland fire engine, which had gone off a road on a curve.
“We don’t pull this trigger easy”, said Steve Gage with NIFC.
The fire remained uncontained Sunday at close to 10,000 acres.
The shelter – one of eight the Red Cross is operating or supporting for people displaced by wildfires in the state – had been at Republic Elementary School.
“I’d like to set some different records”, Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers said. Firefighters in California have also suffered fatalities in this particularly brutal season.
Omak: City Hall, 2 Ash St. N., Omak.
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People in areas affected by wildfire smoke are encouraged to monitor air quality using current information found on the Department of Ecology’s website.
