By NICK SMITH
Big Gulch, Fish Creek, Bruin Pt, Sombrero Butte - these are some of the American hotspots that Auckland firefighter Larry Crocker will help to damp down.
The 49-year-old Counties Manukau fire chief today flies out with nine colleagues - two from the Rural Fire Authority, five Department of Conservation staff, one Defence Force member and another from the Timaru District Council - to join 22,000 people battling blazes in the western states.
"I'm the sole blue-shirter [frontline Fire Service firefighter]," said Mr Crocker as he frantically packed gear for his trip to rugged, isolated territory in Northwest Idaho, where he will be based.
"We'll get on a plane in the afternoon with what kit we think we need. We'll just land on our feet and just do the business."
His job for the next month is to provide management support for fire agencies, working 14-day shifts.
"We've been told we're likely to be camping out on the fire line. I will be certainly keeping my eyes and ears open on how they are managing a complex and widespread catastrophe.
"Fires of this magnitude are beyond the point where you can combat them with normal means. It's out of control but we go over there armed with our knowledge of fire and how dangerous it is.
"And we know when to take steps - big ones, that way."
Mr Crocker said he was picked because of his training in rural firefighting in Australia, which is sending 70 personnel to the United States after a request for help from the National Interagency Fire Centre in Boise, Idaho.
In that city, the temperature has been consistently higher than 37 deg C and the state is the scene of some of the worst fires.
Across the US, about 64,000 blazes have destroyed 1.61 million hectares of vegetation - the worst fire season in 50 years.
Upon Mr Crocker's return, tentatively scheduled for September 18, he will help to train firefighters and staff from Government agencies, police, ambulance and Civil Defence.
"The experience that we will be bringing back with us will be invaluable in managing wildfires like those around Alexandra about two summers ago or managing any large multi-agency emergency.
"You just pick up so much."
Fire team answers US call
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.