In an unprecedented show of international solidarity, Australia and New Zealand dispatched their largest-ever contingent of wildland firefighters to assist the United States during the 2026 fire season — and those crews continue to play a meaningful role in the Pacific Northwest and Great Basin today.

Record International Deployment

More than 240 firefighters from Australia and New Zealand arrived at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise in mid-August, making it the largest antipodean contingent ever sent to support U.S. fire operations. The deployment was coordinated under a longstanding bilateral agreement between the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand that allows for international resource sharing during severe fire seasons.

At the time of their arrival, more than 29,000 U.S. personnel were already assigned to incidents nationwide, and NIFC officials publicly described the situation as a period of critical national resource demand. The international crews provided essential depth to the national firefighting capability at a moment when domestic resources were stretched to their limits.

Current Assignments

As of the September 10 NIFC Incident Management Situation Report, two 15-member incident management teams and 212 fireline personnel from Australia and New Zealand remain assigned to support large fires in the Northwest and Great Basin geographic areas. Their duties include:

  • Incident management — planning, logistics, and operations leadership
  • Fireline work including engine crew support, hand line construction, and mop-up
  • Communications and staffing support on complex multi-agency incidents

International crews received orientation and briefings upon arrival before being embedded with federal, Tribal, state, and local firefighting teams across the region.

Skills and Experience

Australian and New Zealand firefighters bring significant experience in managing large, wind-driven fires in dry, eucalyptus-dominated landscapes — conditions that translate well to the timber and grass fire environments of the Pacific Northwest and Great Basin. Their incident management personnel have expertise in unified command structures, aerial supervision, and large fire logistics that has proven immediately valuable on complex Northwest incidents.

Broader International Context

The 2026 fire season has been one of the most demanding on record for U.S. wildland fire agencies, with the national preparedness level reaching its upper tiers for an extended period before dropping to Level 3 on September 9. The deployment of international resources highlights both the severity of this season and the value of the longstanding fire resource sharing agreements the U.S. maintains with allies around the world.

Fire managers and community members across the Northwest have expressed appreciation for the international support. As National Preparedness Level 3 allows some resources to begin returning home, the Australian and New Zealand crews are expected to remain deployed through the active portions of their assignment before rotating back in the coming weeks.