Australian and New Zealand emergency service personnel respond to US calls for assistance
The AFAC National Resource Sharing Centre is coordinating a deployment of 74 Australian and New Zealand emergency service personnel to the United States.
A contingent of 74 Australian and New Zealand personnel are deploying to the United States, following a request for assistance from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC).
The AFAC National Resource Sharing Centre (NRSC) is coordinating a deployment that includes an incident management team, liaison officers, and ground crew members to Boise, Idaho, to assist in fire suppression operations.
The multi-agency contingent are representatives from ACT Parks and Conservation Service, Country Fire Authority Victoria, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Parks Victoria, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions WA, Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA, NSW Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW Rural Fire Service, NSW State Emergency Service, and Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
'We have a long history of collaboration and resource sharing with our counterparts in the United States,' said AFAC Deputy Director Operations, Emma Conway AFSM.
'We thank our members from Australia and New Zealand who are proud to support the United States in their time of need', she said.
The United States is currently experiencing significant fire activity, with 72 large fires active across the country including in Oregon, Colorado, California, Minesota, Idaho, Floria, Washington, Utah, Arizona, North Carolina, Wyoming, Virginia, New Mexico and South Carolina.
The AFAC NRSC remains in continuous contact with our United States and Canadian colleagues as their fire seasons evolve.
Contact
For further information, please contact: media@afac.com.au.
About the AFAC National Resource Sharing Centre
The AFAC NRSC coordinates and facilitates international and interstate deployments through its established partnerships and national arrangements as authorised by the Commissioners and Chief Officers Strategic Committee. The AFAC NRSC is recognised as an enabler of national capability for fire and emergency services.
The AFAC NSRC enhances the efficiency of resource deployments to an interstate or international natural hazard emergency event. Through its creation of partnerships and agreements, national resourcing capability is deployable through a collaborative operating model.
The AFAC NRSC is made possible through a collaborative funding arrangement between state and territory fire and emergency services and the Australian Government's National Emergency Management Agency.
About AFAC
AFAC is the Australian and New Zealand Council for fire and emergency services. AFAC is an independent, member-based organisation that supports connected and capable emergency management.
AFAC Council comprises member organisations spanning fire, emergency service and land management organisations, who lead a paid and volunteer workforce of more than 288,000 people, supporting communities to be safer and more resilient.
AFAC also delivers services to, and on behalf of, emergency management organisations in Australia and New Zealand. AFAC also works in partnership with the Australian Government and other domestic and international organisations supporting response, risk reduction and community resilience.