Australia, New Zealand Crews and Military Assets Join Massive Pacific Northwest Firefighting Response

The scale of the Pacific Northwest wildfire emergency has triggered one of the largest mobilizations of firefighting resources in U.S. history, with international crews from Australia and New Zealand, military C-130 airtankers, and Army soldiers all deployed to support suppression efforts across Oregon, Washington, and the broader Northwest as of August 7, 2026.

International Firefighters Deployed to Northwest

Under the International Crew Exchange program, firefighters from Australia and New Zealand have been mobilized and are specifically assigned to support large fire incidents in the Northwest. This resource-sharing agreement — part of a long-standing arrangement between the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and other nations — allows firefighting expertise and personnel to flow to the areas of greatest need when domestic resources are fully committed.

International crews bring specialized skills and are typically integrated into Incident Command Post operations, working alongside U.S. Forest Service, BLM, and state crews on large fire complexes. As of NIFC's August 6 report, international crews are actively assigned to Northwest incidents.

Military C-130 Airtankers Activated

Four Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) C-130 airtankers have been deployed for firefighting aerial missions, according to NIFC and reporting from Stars and Stripes. The MAFFS system converts military C-130 cargo aircraft into aerial retardant tankers, allowing the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard to augment the civilian airtanker fleet during declared fire emergencies.

NIFC notes that the current situation marks one of relatively few years in which both MAFFS air support and ground crews have been simultaneously deployed for major suppression efforts. The 302nd Airlift Wing out of Colorado (Air Force Reserve) has been involved in MAFFS missions supporting Northwest fires.

Army Soldiers Fight Fires in the Northwest

The U.S. Army has also deployed soldiers to assist with Pacific Northwest wildfire suppression, according to Stars and Stripes reporting from August 5. Military personnel are trained in basic firefighting tasks and can be rapidly deployed when civilian resources are overwhelmed. This is the latest in a series of military fire deployments in recent years as fire seasons have grown in intensity and duration.

Incident Management Teams and Personnel

As of August 6, there are 25 Complex Incident Management Teams (Type 1 and Type 2) and one National Incident Management Organization (NIMO) team active on incidents nationwide. More than 29,699 personnel total are assigned to fire incidents across the country.

The Northwest Area is consuming a disproportionate share of national firefighting resources. The Northwest Interagency Coordination Center in Portland coordinates resource ordering and logistics for all large fire incidents in Oregon and Washington, routing requests for additional crews, engines, air resources, and equipment through the national resource ordering system.

Competition for Resources

With 86 large fires burning nationwide and multiple other geographic areas also facing elevated fire danger — including the Great Basin, Northern Rockies, and parts of California — competition for national firefighting resources is intense. Ordering delays for specialty resources such as large air tankers, dozers, and Type 1 crews have been reported at some incidents as demand outpaces supply.