Massive wildfires in dry West strain firefighting resources

Wildfires in the dry West have pushed the nation’s firefighting resources to their limits, provoking authorities to activate the military and seek international help. For the first time since 2006, the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise called in the military, seeking help with roughly 95 wildfires. Cooperation between firefighters and the military has been possible since an agreement was made in 1975 between the Defense, Interior and Agriculture departments. Speaking on Tuesday, the center’s spokesman said that more than 1,500 square miles had burned down in the Lower 48 states over the course of the last two weeks. Canada has loaned resources to the firefighting efforts, and authorities have also been talking to Australia and New Zealand.