New Zealand firefighters to extend US deployment

7 September 2015

Fifteen firefighters from the country’s rural fire authorities will stay another two weeks in the United States to help contain fires raging in Washington State.

National Rural Fire Officer Kevin O'Connor said the New Zealand and Australian contingents had been asked to extend their deployment as fires continued to burn in many areas of the tinder-dry state.

“The US authorities have been very pleased with the support they’ve received and have asked us to stay on. For our part, it’s experience that will prove valuable back home.”

He said there had been a recent break in the weather, with rain in parts of the state, but high temperatures were expected to return this week.

Fires also continue to burn in parts of Montana, California or Oregon.

Mr O’Connor said the team would take off the coming weekend to get some rest and relaxation, possibly in the city of Spokane, before beginning their second rotation on Monday 14 September.

The 15 firefighters are dispersed in areas mainly to the north of Spokane.

They flew out from Auckland on August 23, transiting through the National Interagency Fire Centre in Idaho for a briefing and onward deployment.

ENDS

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