MOSES LAKE — A team of 65 senior firefighters from Australia and New Zealand has arrived in the Pacific Northwest to help combat the region's severe wildfires. Upon arrival, the firefighters received briefings at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, before being dispatched to major wildfire incidents, including the Willamette Complex South on the Willamette National Forest and the Pioneer Fire in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. 

Over the coming weeks, the contingent will occupy crucial leadership and operational roles, such as helibase managers, division supervisors, task force leaders and safety officers. 

"We are deeply grateful to our colleagues from Australia and New Zealand for their critical support," said Jacque Buchanan, Regional Forester for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Region. "Their expertise is essential as we continue to face a prolonged and extreme fire season." 

This international support is part of a long-standing mutual wildland fire assistance agreement between the U.S. and these countries, which dates back over 20 years. This is the eighth time since 2000 that Australia has dispatched firefighters to assist in the U.S., while American firefighters have similarly aided Australia during its fire seasons. 

"This deployment of specialists from Australia and New Zealand is just the most recent example of the collaborative relationship with U.S. fire agencies and continues to demonstrate the interoperability between these countries that has existed for more than two decades," said Josh Torrens, Agency Representative for the Australia and New Zealand contingent. 

Largest Washington fires:      

Retreat Fire: Washington’s largest active blaze was at 45,600 acres and 70% containment Thursday. The fire started at 4 p.m. July 14 about 14 miles southeast of Naches.  

Pioneer Fire: Washington's second-largest active wildfire was at 38,700 acres and 18% containment Thursday. The fire started around 1 p.m. June 8 and is located 10 miles southwest of Stehekin. 635 personnel were involved in suppressing the blaze Thursday.   

Cougar Creek Fire: Washington’s third-largest fire had burned 24,100 acres and was 60% contained Thursday. The fire blazed up around 8 p.m. July 15 approximately 1 mile west of the intersection of Highway 129 and the Grand Ronde River, south of Walla Walla. 262 personnel were on the scene.  

New Washington fires:  

The Lodgepole fire started Monday, however Thursday it expanded over 10 acres Thursday. The fire is 35 acres with no containment as of Thursday. It is located 16 miles west of Cliff Dell. There are 88 personnel working on the blaze.  

2620 Road/Jupiter fire started at 7:20 p.m. Wednesday night. The fire is 320 acres with no containment. It is in Jefferson County.  

No new fires were reported contained Thursday.  

Other fires: 

Easy Fire: 2,100 acres. 29% containment. Began at 8 p.m. July 17. Located 17 miles west of Mazama along North Cascades Scenic Highway. 300 personnel.   

Flat Creek Fire: 40 acres. 0% contained. Started on Friday. Located in Chelan County, near Flat Creek. Crew size not specified.   

Kachess Complex: 21 acres. 0% contained. Started on Aug. 9. Located in the Cle Elum Ranger District of Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. 192 personnel.  

Miners Complex Fires: 1,100 acres. 0% containment. Began on July 17. Located 21 miles east of Darrington. Fire crew details unavailable.   

Pincer Two Fire: 190 acres. 0% containment. Began on July 18. Located one mile east of Mineral Park. 15 personnel.  

Ruby Fire: 820 acres. 0% containment. Began 7 a.m. Friday. Located in Whatcom County. 50 personnel.    

Shoofly Fire: 104 acres. 63% contained. Ignited on July 8. Located nine miles north of Stevens Pass. No crew information available.   

Williams Mine Fire: 11,300 acres. 2% contained. Started noon Aug. 5. Located near Mount Adams Wilderness in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. 288 personnel.   

Wolf Fork Fire: 130 acres. 95% containment. Started 2 p.m. Aug. 5. Located in Columbia County. No crew information available.   

Other fires reported throughout the state have burned less than 10 acres and are not included in this report. The majority are less than 1 acre.    

The Columbia Basin’s wildfire danger continues to be very high. The Grant County Sheriff’s office has asked area residents to be careful with anything that could cause a wildfire.    

Air quality was moderate Thursday for the Columbia Basin.

Sources: InciWeb/NIFC/WildCAD/AirNow