Dedicated firefighters answer the global call for help

It’s a proud Aussie tradition that we help a mate in need when times get tough.

And that’s exactly the attitude of the dedicated fire team from National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) who once again jumped to the aid of their global friends to battle wildfires across western Canada and the US.

A team of NPWS fire specialists and crew from the Country Fire Service (CFS) took their expertise in firefighting and emergency management to some of the toughest firegrounds overseas.

Why are our teams in high demand?

NPWS staff deployed overseas aren’t just any firefighting crew. With years of experience under their belts and specialist skills like aerial ignition, remote area firefighting, and fire behaviour analysis, they’re uniquely qualified to handle extreme bushfire and remote conditions. This expertise makes them a valuable resource in international firefighting efforts.

But how do they slot in so seamlessly? It’s all down to years of collaboration and recognition of training between the countries, aligning incident management systems and ensuring that our teams can work side by side with their international counterparts.

How long do they go for?

These deployments are no short stint – each team member is typically deployed for up to 40 days. During this time, they play crucial roles in both frontline firefighting and incident management, helping to coordinate resources and tackle wildfires across vast and challenging landscapes.

What do they learn on these deployments?

Returning crews generally describe the challenge as a great learning opportunity and have commented on how great it is to put their skills to use in a totally new environment.

Natalia Tanti, (Fire Management Officer, Brigade Management) was deployed to Alberta, Canada as a Resource Unit Leader in the Incident Management Team and recently returned, commenting that

“Working with personnel from Parks Canada, Ontario and Alberta Wildfire provided a great opportunity to utilise my skillset in a different environment, using new systems and processes,” she said.

“We were expected to hit the ground running and learn quickly so we could contribute in a meaningful way. The skills and knowledge gained on these deployments can be adapted and used during our local incidents.”

Paul Unsworth, (District Manager, Fleurieu) was sent to Oregon in the US as a Divisional Supervisor in a Division with close to 100 crew. He was surprised by the scale of incident management over there as well as the amount of resources at their disposal.

“There was a steep learning curve in understanding systems and communications procedures but we all soon dropped into a routine and, I think, provided a pretty good contribution to the firefighting effort,” he said.

“Not only have I experienced so many new aspects of firefighting, I’ve seen some amazing country and experienced the terrific friendliness of the people I met and their genuine gratitude for the job we were able to do.”

Is demand for help growing?

With climate change bringing more intense and frequent fire seasons, the need for skilled firefighting support is rising – both in North America and here at home. NPWS is proud to return the favour, especially after the crucial help we received from Canadian and US crews during the devastating Black Summer bushfires in 2019-20.

As we face our own challenges with increasingly volatile fire seasons, these international deployments highlight the importance of global collaboration in tackling the growing threat of bushfires.