Two Minnesota firefighters have traveled to Australia to help fight the raging wildfires, and more could follow.
The wildland firefighters were asked to lend a hand by the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), based in Boise, Idaho. Requests like this for international support go through NIFC.
The fires have burned more than 12 million acres in Australia. Dozens of people have been killed, thousands evacuated, and at least 2,000 homes have been destroyed. It's estimated that millions of animals have died.
Mike Crook, with the Superior National Forest in Grand Marais, Minnesota, was assigned to Victoria in southeastern Australia on Dec. 19, 2019. He will help "monitor fire weather and fire behavior," and is scheduled to return home on Jan. 25.
Marty Cassellius with the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Bloomington, Minnesota, also headed to Victoria on Dec. 30, 2019. He will be helping with fire suppression on the ground, and is expected to go back home on Jan. 28.
The Minnesota Incident Command System (MNICS) coordinates agencies like the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Department of Public Safety. A coordinator for MNICS said no one from the state DNR would be deployed - only firefighters from federal agencies.
"The Minnesota Incident Command System is ready to support our international wildland fire community," they said in a news release.
Spokesperson Leanne Langeberg said there are more people on the availability list, ready and lined up as needed to help on the front lines.
