International resource sharing is crucial in battling devastating bushfires worldwide. As fires rage in both Australia and the US, the Australian and New Zealand National Council for fire and emergency services’ National Resource Sharing Centre is coordinating critical deployments, ensuring nations collaborate effectively to strengthen firefighting efforts and protect lives and landscapes.
While Australia is deep into the heart of its bushfire season, we have also witnessed horrific fires devastate Los Angeles in California, with catastrophic consequences.
It’s estimated some 30 people tragically lost their lives, nearly 200,000 people were evacuated, and at least 18,000 structures destroyed, equating to US$200 billion (A$323 billion) in damage and economic loss.
Closer to home, the Grampians bushfire in Western Victoria has raged through the area for weeks, burning more than 86,000 hectares of national park and agricultural land and claiming residential properties and outbuildings, according to the Country Fire Authority.
These two fire incidents, raging at opposite ends of the globe and during opposing seasons, stress the future importance of bushfire defence and international resource sharing.
Management of bushfire resources
Bushfire and resource sharing is pivotal for fire-prone nations to control such fire devastation. Central to managing this process and helping bring together countries experiencing destructive bushfire is the Australian and New Zealand National Council for fire and emergency services’ (AFAC) National Resource Sharing Centre. It manages the efficiency of resource deployments to an interstate or international natural hazard emergency event.
The AFAC National Resource Sharing Centre was developed to provide international support to Canada and the US during wildfire operations, and resources have been consistently shared during times of need.
Last year, 312 Australasian personnel were deployed to Canada and 71 to the US. The contingent was made up of representatives from every Australian state and territory, and New Zealand, performing roles such as air attack supervisors, strike team leaders, fire behaviour analysts and other incident management team roles.
Back home, in December the Western Australian Parks and Wildlife Service recently sent a convoy to Victoria to help battle the serious bushfires in the Grampians National Park. Meanwhile, the Northern Territory Fire and Emergency Services has just been deployed to assist in Western Victoria.
It’s a system that works well and provides much-needed support on both sides of the nation and globe.
“During times of significant wildfire activity and when domestic resources are stretched, international deployments provide great value in boosting wildfire firefighting capability,” writes Alana Beitz in Fire Australia magazine.
“The growing history of resource sharing between Canada, the US, Australia and New Zealand has allowed the countries to better align their incident management systems and share resources effectively when required.”
Nations onboard to assist with resource deployments to California were Mexico and Canada, as well as Ukraine, who offered to provide 150 firefighters, and Iran, who reportedly offered to also send personnel.
SBS News reported that Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister said Australia is “ready to assist” if US authorities ask for help. Though Australia is in the midst of its own bushfire season, Senator McAllister said she would assess any calls for assistance against local needs.
Coretext works with the national Fire Protection Association Australia and AFAC to produce the quarterly publication Fire Australia. At Coretext we are committed to working with clients who share our vision of creating and sharing knowledge that promotes an equitable, sustainable world.
References
Australasia bolsters North American wildfire response. Fire Australia, Issue 4 2024, pp. 24–25
Australia ready to do ‘everything we responsibly can’ to help fight LA fires. SBS News, 10 January 2024.
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