Meet the California Firefighters Helping Australia Battle Epic Bush Fires
By News
Published 4 years ago on
January 22, 2020
Share
[aggregation-styles]
Los Angeles Times Subscription
OVENS, Australia — It was a rare victory for the seasoned Americans battling flames Down Under.
Beneath a green eucalyptus canopy in the country’s Australian Alps, the continent’s tallest mountain range dividing New South Wales and Victoria, some of America’s most versatile firefighters, mostly from Southern California, are laboring to help the Australians gain the upper hand against their worst fire season ever.
The work, up until Saturday afternoon, had not always been fruitful for these two dozen firefighters, nearly all of them from the Angeles National Forest. Weekly lightning storms have sparked new fires beyond their defensive positions, and even some older fires have spread so quickly they have outrun crews finishing containment lines.
But that afternoon, word crackled over the radio that a containment line they’d dug days before had held up, stopping another blaze’s progress. It was their first success since arriving in Australia on Jan. 8.
Read More →
Los Angeles Times Subscription
OVENS, Australia — It was a rare victory for the seasoned Americans battling flames Down Under.
Beneath a green eucalyptus canopy in the country’s Australian Alps, the continent’s tallest mountain range dividing New South Wales and Victoria, some of America’s most versatile firefighters, mostly from Southern California, are laboring to help the Australians gain the upper hand against their worst fire season ever.
The work, up until Saturday afternoon, had not always been fruitful for these two dozen firefighters, nearly all of them from the Angeles National Forest. Weekly lightning storms have sparked new fires beyond their defensive positions, and even some older fires have spread so quickly they have outrun crews finishing containment lines.
But that afternoon, word crackled over the radio that a containment line they’d dug days before had held up, stopping another blaze’s progress. It was their first success since arriving in Australia on Jan. 8.
Read More →
By Joseph Serna | 21 Jan 2020
[activecampaign form=29]RELATED TOPICS:
Trump’s Potential VP Pick Boasts About Executing Puppy
Politics /
18 hours ago
Trita Parsi: Blind Support for Israel Erodes Western Democracies
Opinion /
18 hours ago
Fresno Trash Hauler’s Response to Overpayments: We Followed the City’s Rules
Politics /
18 hours ago
Which Six QBs Were Selected in the Top 12 of the NFL Draft?
Sports /
18 hours ago
Nuggets Close to Sweeping Lakers After Game 3 Win
Sports /
19 hours ago
Jose Ramirez: ‘I Want to Make a Statement and Put on a Show’
Sports /
19 hours ago
Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 6 Shutout Innings Help Dodgers Finish Sweep, Defeat Nats 2-1
Sports /
20 hours ago
The 49ers Add Florida Receiver Ricky Pearsall With the 30th Draft Pick
Sports /
20 hours ago
Political Stunt, Egg on His Face, Personal Vendetta. Who’s Fresno DA Talking About?
Politics /
20 hours ago
California Legislation Wants to Uncover the ‘Hidden Homicides’ of Domestic Violence
A state senator says there’s a “hidden homicide” epidemic of killers making domestic violence murders look like suicides or accidents. Her b...
Crime /
5 hours ago
Categories
Latest
Videos
Crime /
5 hours ago
California Legislation Wants to Uncover the ‘Hidden Homicides’ of Domestic Violence
Politics /
17 hours ago
Fresno Oops? Garbage Hike Protest Vote Delayed by Error
Politics /
18 hours ago
Trump’s Potential VP Pick Boasts About Executing Puppy
Opinion /
18 hours ago
Trita Parsi: Blind Support for Israel Erodes Western Democracies
Politics /
18 hours ago
Fresno Trash Hauler’s Response to Overpayments: We Followed the City’s Rules
Sports /
18 hours ago
Which Six QBs Were Selected in the Top 12 of the NFL Draft?
Sports /
19 hours ago