Two Great Southern volunteer firefighters have returned from a deployment in the US, joining fireys from around Australia to lend a hand battling wildfires.

Albany Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service captain Chris Slade and Denmark Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service’s Lee Shelley left for the USA on August 10. They geared up to spend more than a month on the ground assisting American crews.

A contingent of more than 40 firefighters from brigades across WA joined a 300-strong group of Australian and New Zealand firefighters headed to the US to help fight the dangerous wildfires.

Mr Slade’s team flew into Idaho for extra training before they faced their first American fireground, then were deployed to fires in Washington and then Oregon.

They were away from home for five weeks in total, and Mr Slade said it was an experience that was challenging, but well worth the effort.

“It was a really good experience,” he said.

“This year was unique because USA don’t normally ask for firefighters’ assistance, so it was an exciting opportunity for us.

“Everyone we met over there was lovely and so honoured that we were there helping.

“I think because the Americans are so proud of their country, they are so moved by people wanting to come help protect it.”

Visiting crews stayed in large-scale fire camps close to the fireground, sleeping in two-man tents after 15-hour days.

“I am one that dislikes camping immensely, but if I’m doing something to help people like fighting a fire, I don’t mind,” Mr Slade said.

“The first fire in Washington, for example, 2500 people assisted on that fire, so there were hundreds of people staying in the camp we were at.

“There are people everywhere, but it’s also very well-organised, there are dozens of people employed to make sure everyone is doing OK and getting everything they need to continue their work.”

Americans have very different firefighting techniques to Australians, and Mr Slade said it was eye-opening to see how differently the two countries tackled out-of-control fires.

“They do it very differently over there,” he said.

“We rely on our vehicles a lot, whereas they are on foot, and that changes even simple things like burnover protection.

“Our vehicles are set up with deluge systems that we can protect ourselves inside the vehicle in the event of a burnover.

“Americans don’t have that.

“Instead, we all get issued with personal shelters, and if you have a burnover situation, you’re trained to deploy the shelter within 30 seconds; you wrap a shelter around you, clear the area, and the fire front will pass over the top of you.”

Mr Slade said though he would go on another deployment in a heartbeat, he was keen to see others take on the challenge.

“I think it’s a very unique and amazing opportunity,” he said.

“DFES try to share these opportunities around, diversity is a big thing, so don’t feel like just because someone else on your brigade has 30 years experience that you won’t get a look in. Put your hand up anyway, you never know.

“I think everyone in the volunteer world should put their hand up for it if they have the time or the ability to go.”