A Grand Marais man spent Christmas in Australia working with local wildland firefighters to slow the massive burn that to date has consumed more than 12 million acres.
Mike Crook, with the Superior National Forest out of Grand Marais, Minn., was assigned to Victoria in southeastern Australia on December 19, 2019. He is helping monitor fire weather and fire behavior. Crook is scheduled to return January 25, 2020.
Mike was one of two wildland firefighters from Minnesota assigned to help Australia in their efforts to battle wildfires.
Marty Cassellius, with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Midwest Regional Office in Bloomington, Minn., was assigned to Victoria, Australia, on December 30, 2019. He will help with fire suppression efforts on the ground. Cassellius is scheduled to return on January 28, 2020.
The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho, requested both individuals based on their wildland firefighting experience and availability. As requests for international support are placed through NIFC, qualified federal wildland firefighters throughout the United States who are available to support efforts in Australia will be considered for assignments.
The Minnesota Incident Command System is ready to support our international wildland fire community.
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