Lower 48 wildfires prompts Alaska firefighters to help

More Alaska firefighters have gone to the Lower 48, as wildfires in western states there intensify.

State and federal firefighting agencies in Alaska report that five, 20-person crews were flown south Wednesday. They’re joining over 15 hundred people battling the Pioneer Fire in Idaho.

The agencies report that 2 dozen Alaska smoke jumpers and four crews, were earlier deployed to the lower 48. Alaska firefighting aircraft have also been going south, including helicopters, water and retardant dropping planes.

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