Australia, NZ firefighters fly out to battle deadly California wildfires

 

FILE PHOTO: A firefighter knocks down hotspots to slow the spread of the River Fire (Mendocino Complex) in Lakeport, California, U.S. July 31, 2018. REUTERS/Fred Greaves/File Photo

 

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Firefighters from Australia and New Zealand flew out of Sydney on Friday on a mission to relieve exhausted crews battling deadly wildfires sweeping the northwest of the United States.

 

Australian fire authorities said the contingent of about 100 firefighters set off as conditions turned gusty in the mountains north of Sacramento, where fierce fires were among 100 burning across 13 western U.S. states.

 

The 11-day-old Carr Fire, stoked by drought-parched vegetation and triple-digit temperatures, is the most fearsome.

 

It has killed six people, reduced 1,555 structures to smouldering ruins and ranks as the sixth most destructive wildfire on record in California.

 

(Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Paul Tait)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-08-03

Going where the money is, this happens every year! The 'mericans fly to Oz and NZ for the summer fires and the Kiwi's and Oz firefighters fly in for the US summer fires! Well paid and most appreciated!