https://www.newser.com/story/285140/in-rare-move-us-sends-firefighters-to-australia.html
In Rare Move, US Sends Firefighters to Australia
By Rob Quinn,
![](https://img2-azrcdn.newser.com/image/1275225-11-20200103054118.jpeg)
In 2018, around 140 firefighters from Australia and New Zealand helped fight wildfires in California and other western states. With wildfires now raging in Australia, the help is being repaid. Around 100 American firefighters have been sent to Australia over the last four weeks and at least 50 more will be dispatched on Monday, the Los Angeles Times reports. This is the first time the US government has sent firefighters to Australia since 2010. Canada, for the first time, has also sent dozens of firefighters Down Under. National Interagency Fire Center public affairs officer Kari Cobbs say the US firefighters who volunteered for the assignment will earn their normal salary while overseas. An agreement between the US and Australia to share fire resources "works really well because Australia has a different fire season than we do," Cobb says.