By The Associated Press
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Australia and New Zealand are sending firefighters to help battle wildfires burning in the western United States.
The National Interagency Fire Center in Boise announced Thursday that top fire managers representing various U.S. agencies requested about 70 fire managers and specialists from the two countries.
Details are still being worked out, but the firefighters are expected to arrive in Boise on Sunday. After a one-day orientation to learn about current fire behavior they will be assigned to large fires.
The last time the U.S. asked for help from Australia and New Zealand was in 2008.
Drought and heat have combined to make this one of the most active fire seasons in the United States in recent years.
Nearly 29,000 firefighters are battling some 100 large blazes across the West.
