The National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group (NMAC) at the National Interagency Fire Center has mobilized 74 fire management specialists from Australia and New Zealand to support wildfire suppression operations across the Pacific Northwest — a significant deployment that underscores the severity of the 2026 fire season and the degree to which domestic firefighting resources have been stretched to their limits.

The International Deployment

The 74 personnel from Australia and New Zealand will provide 30 days of operational support under longstanding bilateral arrangements for international wildfire assistance that have been in effect since 2002. This year's mobilization is particularly notable because it includes a 15-person Incident Management Team that will be assigned to the Castle Fire near Milo, Oregon, on the Umpqua National Forest. This marks one of the few times in recent history that an international IMT has been deployed as a unified team to a specific incident in the Northwest.

The international specialists will integrate with U.S. personnel to support command and control, planning, logistics, operations, and safety oversight across their assigned incidents. Additional personnel from the contingent will be deployed to other fires across Oregon and Washington as directed by the NMAC.

Domestic Resources Committed

The Northwest Geographic Area currently has 19 Complex Incident Management Teams committed to fires across Oregon and Washington — a near-maximal commitment of available management resources for the region. Nationwide, the firefighting workforce engaged in active operations includes:

  • 25,244 firefighters and support personnel
  • 558 crews (including hand crews and hotshot crews)
  • 1,525 engines
  • 156 helicopters

With 92 large fires burning across the country and the Northwest accounting for 48 of the uncontained ones, competition for resources is intense. Oregon's 34 large fires have made the state the top priority for national resource allocation.

Why International Support Is Needed

The United States and Southern Hemisphere nations like Australia and New Zealand operate on opposite fire seasons, making mutual aid feasible. When the Northern Hemisphere's fire season peaks in summer, Australian and New Zealand fire agencies are in their off-season (Southern Hemisphere winter) and can spare trained personnel for deployment.

"International firefighters help fill staffing gaps in high demand," said a spokesperson for the Boise-based NIFC. "They are experienced, professional, and integrate well with our crews."

NIFC maintains similar agreements with Canada, Mexico, and several European nations, and has activated these arrangements in previous high-demand seasons.

How the Public Can Help

Fire officials are asking the public to support the massive firefighting effort by doing their part to prevent new ignitions and keep existing fires from growing:

  • Respect all campfire and fire restriction orders currently in effect across public lands in Oregon and Washington
  • Do not start fires of any kind when conditions are dry, hot, and windy
  • If towing a trailer, ensure safety chains don't drag and create sparks
  • Never discard cigarettes from a vehicle window
  • Avoid parking vehicles on dry grass — hot catalytic converters can ignite fires
  • Give a friendly wave or post a thank-you sign for the firefighters working in your area

For more information on international fire support, visit nifc.gov/fire-information/international-support.