Climate change has lengthened Australia’s fire season and has already seen an increase in the number of days where the risk of fire is high. It’s a familiar narrative around the world.
EDIT: Australia’s expertise and experience in bushfires has meant its fire services have in recent years regularly shared personnel and equipment with the United States and Canada, and vice versa.
One of Australia’s large air tankers has been on the US west coast helping fight fires in recent weeks, and will be followed by almost 70 personnel next week.
“Around the world we are seeing conditions we haven’t seen before,” says Shepherd. “The more we all learn from each other, the better it is for us all around the globe.”