As firefighters from around the world continue to assist in fighting the fires in Australia, members of the Huron Manistee National Forest -- based out of Cadillac, Michigan -- are among those helping. According to the U.S. Forest Service, 159 interagency personnel, including 87 from the USDA Forest Service, are in Australia fighting the blaze.
The members are there as part of a mutual aid partnership between the U.S., Canada, New Zealand and Australia. “Our thoughts and prayers, with our deepest condolences, are with the Australia firefighters and public who have lost their lives and homes,” said Shawna Legarza, director, Fire and Aviation Management. “We are proud to provide personnel from the United States and will continue to support Australia with the resources needed during this unprecedented fire situation.”