Thirty-six New Zealand fire personnel will depart for the United States this evening to assist firefighters from the United States and other countries to combat the wildfires raging across the north and northwest of the United States.

Team members will head first to Boise, Idaho, to be inducted and then be deployed to sites where they are most needed, Fire and Emergency New Zealand National Manager Rural Kevin O’Connor says.

"The deployment provides us with an opportunity to assist a country that assisted us after the Christchurch earthquake by sending Urban Search and Rescue personnel here. It also provides an invaluable development opportunity for our people."

The New Zealanders will operate as part of a joint Anzac deployment with fire and emergency personnel from across Australia.

"Since 2000 firefighters from New Zealand have participated in 20 overseas deployments - six to the United States, three to Canada and 11 to Australia. A total of 784 people have been involved. "The most recent deployment was to Canada in August 2017 when we sent 80 people to British Colombia."

The team to the United States includes people from Fire and Emergency NZ, the New Zealand Defence Force, the Department of Conservation, forestry companies and contractors.

Team members will work in a range or roles including as safety officers, crew bosses, task force leaders and helicopter managers.

New Zealand has also received a formal request from Canada to assist with the growing number of wild fires in Ontario, British Columbia and the Yukon Territory.

Details of what assistance is required are currently being worked through and a New Zealand contingent is expected to head to Canada early next week.
ENDS

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