To firefighters throughout Australasia the terms ‘summertime’ and ‘wildfire’ go together like clichés and idioms – NSW recently faced one of its worst wildfire seasons on record…

At the moment though it’s not summer in Australasia at all; in fact the south has just experienced a rather severe winter.

…Currently wildfires are ravaging the USA. The state of California, which is enduring one of its worst droughts on record, was first stricken with a number of fierce bushfires until, by late August, there were a total of 76 large fires across the western portion of the United States: 14 in California, 17 in Idaho, 11 in Montana, 12 in Oregon, and 16 in Washington.

On receiving the call for assistance, these Washington wildfires have now become the focus of 71 New Zealand and Australian firefighters.

With no end in sight for the US’s drought conditions or these uncontrollable bushfires, on account of the invaluable work they are doing the Australasian firefighting contingent has been asked to stick it out for a little longer than initially expected.

Nice one guys, make the Southern Hemisphere proud.

Article by Tim Walker

Edited by Bernie West

Photography by Ferry Busch