Third NZ Deployment to the USA wildfires requested

Third NZ Deployment to the USA wildfires requested

September 9, 2006

National Rural Fire Officer Murray Dudfield received a third request yesterday from the USA National Interagency Fire Centre (NIFC) at Boise, Idaho for assistance with the management of wildfire in the North West States of the USA..

“The USA wildland fire agencies were experiencing a wildland fire season which may well rival their devastating 2000, 2002, and 2003 fire seasons” he says.

Eight New Zealanders will be leaving on Monday 11th September from Auckland to replace some of there counterparts who will be returning to New Zealand on the 18th September following there 38 days deployment to assist with the management of these uncontrolled wildfires. The eight New Zealanders will be joined by a further 14 from Australia.

“The current number of uncontrolled large wildfires is 76 fires and the total area destroyed this fire season now exceeds 3.4 million Hectares” says Murray Dudfield.

A request for a third deployment follows a request for a second deployment made on August 21. New Zealand will now have provided 28 fire managers deployed to assist with the management of firefighters and aircraft at a number of large wildfire incident which are causing concern to our USA wildland fire agencies.

“With forecasted weather conditions indicating continued strong winds at times and dry thunder storms this will continue to hampering firefighting efforts” says Murray Dudfield.

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