International firefighters return home after assisting Northwest [Video]

BOISE, Idaho — After a 40-day deployment, international firefighters from New Zealand and Australia are returning back to their home countries. They came to Boise in early August to fight fires.

Peter Gibson, an Australian firefighter, said that over 70 firefighters had come to fight wildfires. On Tuesday morning, those firefighters met at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) to return their gear and celebrate the end of the year.

“That was a fantastic experience, great hospitality, great people to work with,” Gibson said.

However, just because they are heading home, doesn’t mean the fire situation is less fire. The Northwest and Great Basin areas are on National Preparedness Level 5, according to NIFC. That is the highest in the country, and southern Idaho is located in the Great Basin area.

NIFC said that isn’t …