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International firefighters arrive to fight Oregon wildfires

A group of 65 firefighters has arrived from Australia and New Zealand to help fight the largest fires in the Pacific Northwest. The firefighters have been deployed to fires in the Willamette Complex South in the Willamette National Forest, among others.

There were seven lightning-caused fires burning in the Willamette Complex South as of Friday afternoon, totaling 12,737 acres. The Coffeepot Fire was the largest in the complex as of Friday afternoon, at 6,120 acres, and was 35% contained.

The firefighters received training at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, before being assigned to various fires.

“We are deeply grateful to our colleagues in Australia and New Zealand for their important support,” said Jacque Buchanan, regional forester for the Forest Service's Pacific Northwest region. “Their expertise is critical as we continue to face a prolonged and extreme fire season.”

This is the eighth time since 2000 that Australia has sent firefighters to the United States as part of mutual assistance in fighting wildfires.

Air quality warning for parts of southern and central Oregon

Due to smoke from wildfires in Oregon and California, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an air quality warning for Deschutes, Klamath and Lake counties. The DEQ said the warning is expected to remain in effect through Monday afternoon.

The DEQ said it also expects smoke in eastern Douglas, northern Harney, Jackson, eastern Lane and northern Malheur counties through Monday afternoon.

Check current air quality at aqi.oregon.gov/.

Emma Logan is an outdoor journalism intern at the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at[email protected] or on X @emmmalogan

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