US sends veteran firefighters to battle Australia wildfires
Blazes have killed at least 23 people and scorched millions of acres
Anna Kooiman reports from Sydney on the conditions.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A crew of 20 veteran firefighters based in California will head to Australia on Monday to help battle the country's out-of-control wildfires that have killed at least 23 people and scorched millions of acres.
The crew of federal firefighters based in the Angeles National Forest north of Los Angeles will depart on Monday, said Carrie Bilbao, a spokeswoman with the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, which is mobilizing U.S. resources in response to Australia's requests for international firefighting aide.
Federal agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management already have provided a few dozen people, most of them with experience managing fires, Bilbao said Saturday.
In this image released Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning in Gippsland, Australia, a massive smoke rises from wildfires burning in East Gippsland, Victoria. Thousands of tourists are fleeing Australia's wildfire-ravaged eastern coast ahead of worsening conditions as the military started to evacuate people trapped on the shore further south. Cooler weather has aided firefighting and allowed people to replenish supplies. (Dale Appleton/DELWP via AP)
In this Jan. 4, 2020 photo provided by the Australian Department of Defence, a woman and three children prepare to board an Australian Army Blackhawk helicopter in Omeo, Victoria, Australia, for evacuation from the wildfire effected area. The wildfires have so far scorched an area twice the size of the U.S. state of Maryland. (Corporal Nicole Dorrett/ADF via AP)
In this photo provided by the Australian Department of Defence, a Royal Australian Navy Seahawk Helicopter departs from HMAS Adelaide while at sea off Australia's east coast, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, during operations to assist in battling wildfires. The wildfires have so far scorched an area twice the size of the U.S. state of Maryland. (Able Seaman Thomas Sawtell/ADF via AP)
In this Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, photo provided by Australian Department of Defence, the flight deck of a C-130J Hercules aircraft has a warm glow from wildfires, as they prepare to land at Merimbula airfield to deploy Fire and Rescue crews. The wildfires have so far scorched an area twice the size of the U.S. state of Maryland. (SGT Christopher Dickson/ADF via AP)
In this Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, photo provided by Australian Department of Defence, a Royal Australian Navy MRH-90 helicopter crew member looks out over fires burning near Cann River. The wildfires have so far scorched an area twice the size of the U.S. state of Maryland. (Private Michael Currie/ADF via AP)
In this Jan. 5, 2020, photo provided by the Australian Department of Defence, Australian Army Soldier, Corporal Storm Sharp, left, and a paramedic, right, assist a woman at Sale after the evacuation of fire effected areas of Australia's south east. The wildfires have so far scorched an area twice the size of the U.S. state of Maryland.(Corporal Nicole Dorrett/ADF via AP)
In this photo provided by the Australian Department of Defence on Jan. 6, 2020, Seaman Boatswains Mate Malik El-Leissy watches a burning fire from HMAS Adelaide as the ship arrives at Eden to assist with wildfires. The wildfires have so far scorched an area twice the size of the U.S. state of Maryland. They have destroyed about 2,000 homes. (Able Seaman Thomas Sawtell/ADF via AP)
In this image released and dated on Jan. 6, 2020, from Australian Department of Defence, plant operators Cpl. Duncan Keith and Sapper Ian Larner of the 22nd Engineer Regiment use a 434 backhoe to assist staff from Forestry Management Victoria to clear fire damaged trees from the great Alpine road between Bairnsdale and Omeo during Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20 in Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia. Australia's government on Monday said it was willing to pay “whatever it takes” to help communities recover from deadly wildfires that have ravaged the country. (Department of Defence via AP)
In this photo provided by the Australian Department of Defence, a child is helped onto a helicopter as the fire ravaged community of Mallacoota is evacuated, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020. The wildfires have so far scorched an area twice the size of the U.S. state of Maryland. (Corporal Nicole Dorrett/ADF via AP)
In this photo provided by the Australian Department of Defence, a Royal Australian Navy helicopter is loaded with supplies at Bairnsdale for the fire impacted community of Cann River Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020. The wildfires have so far scorched an area twice the size of the U.S. state of Maryland. (Private Michael Currie/ADF via AP)
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The crew leaving on Monday will replace a group of personnel sent to Australia in early December. They include hot-shot and helicopter crew members with experience attacking fires early before they grow into large infernos, said Angeles National Forest Fire Chief Robert Garcia.
Australia and New Zealand have been sending firefighters to the United States for more than 15 years, most recently in August 2018, when 138 came to help battle fires in Northern California and the Northwest, Bilbao said.
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The last time U.S. firefighters worked in Australia was 2010.
"Our focus remains on helping the people of Australia and keeping people safe in these unprecedented conditions," said Craig Leff, director of the Department of the Interior's Office of Wildland Fire.