VIDEO: Australia has seen some of the worst wildfires in decades. The first of a group of American wildland fire personnel sent by the National Interagency Fire Center is back. They were deployed in early December.
John Noneman was part of that group. He says the first few days were a challenge.
"A lot of fuel and a lot of homes built right inside of it, so it's quite a challenge," said Noneman.
Jessica Gardetto, spokesperson for the National Interagency Fire Center, says the U.S. and Australia have had a long-standing relationship.
"The countries experience very similar activity. Our fire seasons are opposite of each other usually, so that works out in that we can trade wildfire personnel, and we've had this agreement with them since 2000, so for about twenty years, we've been exchanging wildfire personnel," said Gardetto.
Noneman says he went to fires near New South Wales and Sydney.