Firies home safe from California

I don’t feel that $15000 is a lot of money for what is given in return in terms of experience and knowledge not to mention the use without question of American specialist air frame helicopters when we need a hand.

A phone call isn’t the same as being there and being involved.

The North Americans fight fires very differently to the way we do (mostly because they have so much more water). But I think it’s a good thing to learn new ideas and techniques.

While I understand that sending a convoy of fire trucks from Sydney to Canberra during bushfires might have some use, can anyone explain to me where the value is in spending $15000 sending three firemen to California? Presumably they did not have much equipment of use to the Americans, and surely the Americans could find 3 blokes for cheaper, so why do it?
And if it’s about networking and sharing ideas, have these guys heard of telephones?