Victorian firefighters will form part of the Australasian deployment to the US to help manage the destructive and devastating fires burning along the west coast, including in Oregon, Washington State and Northern California.
A formal request for 188 Australian and New Zealand personnel has been received by AFAC's National Resource Sharing Centre, who is coordinating the deployment.
Victoria is coordinating the deployment details of the southern-Australian states and NSW is coordinating the deployment of the northern-Australian states.
Australia and New Zealand have skilled emergency management personnel who can operate in specialist roles and can work with our international partners.
Two Australians, including one Victorian and a NSW representative have flown to Boise, Idaho to begin planning for the arrival of crews later this week and will oversee the deployment.
CFA is working with EMV and other agencies as the makeup of Victoria's contingent is determined in the next few days as part of the national planning, with the potential summer ahead as one of the careful considerations to ensure a small, but important Victorian contribution does not impact on Victoria’s response capability.
Victoria has a strong and ongoing relationship with the US which allows for the exchange of personnel, knowledge, skills, equipment, technology and mutual support in the event of an emergency.
At least eight people have died as a result of destructive fires in northern California, which have destroyed hundreds of buildings and homes, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate. The Carr fire, one of the largest is 19,500 hectares and remains out of control.
There are 89 fires burning in the US, across 14 states, which have burnt around of 376,350 hectares.