Australia has sent two helicopters and 24 personnel to assist France in combating severe wildfires near Bordeaux, marking the first Australian firefighting deployment to Europe.
Key points
- A prolonged summer heatwave in southwest France has burned 42,000 hectares and resulted in the deaths of two firefighters.
- The Australian deployment includes a CH-47D Chinook helicopter and a Bell 412 reconnaissance chopper supported by the Australian Defence Force.
- Adelaide company Aerotech Group has also deployed six personnel and four Air Tractor water bombers to the French fire season.
- NSW Rural Fire Service teams are simultaneously deployed across four countries on three continents, including operations in the USA and Canada.
Why it matters
The deployment highlights increasing international cooperation among firefighting agencies as extreme climate conditions and prolonged heatwaves drive severe wildfires across multiple continents.
Comments
No comments yet.