Nellis Helps With Australia Firefighting Effort

USAF airmen have joined the fight against the wildfires raging across Australia, helping Royal Australian Air Force airmen bring relief supplies to affected areas.

Airmen at Nellis AFB, Nev., on Jan. 17 helped load more than 50 bundles of fire suppressant and other equipment onto three RAAF C-17s bound for down under. The supplies will go do Australian Emergency authorities and the Rural Fire Service, according to a Nellis release.

More than 13 million acres have burned across Australia, according to Nellis. The fires began in September, and more than 80 are still burning as of Jan. 21, the BBC reported.

“The Royal Australian Air Force deeply appreciates the offer of help from the United States Air Force,” RAAF Air Marshal Hupfeld said in the release. “The Australian people are comforted to know that in times of need, we have great friends like the United States who are ready to lend a hand. This is yet another example of the strength of our long-term friendship between our countries.”