Posted on 06/29/2002 7:34:11 AM PDT by yankeedame
Legal impasse leaves firefighters stranded
June 30 2002
The Sun-Herald
Legal fears are preventing Australian and New Zealand firefighters being sent to the US to help battle the massive wildfires raging across America.
The US Government is keen for 100 experienced Australasian firefighters to help in one of America's worst fire seasons.
But Australian and New Zealand governments are demanding that they, and their firefighters, be legally protected during any US tours of duty.
Presently, the governments and the firefighters could be liable for any firefighting errors they might make in the US.
To alleviate the legal fears, US politicians met in Washington DC yesterday to speed through a bill that would allow non-US firefighters to be treated as US employees.
But the bill will still probably take more than a month to land on President George Bush's desk.
In 2000, Australia and New Zealand sent 80 firefighters to the US to help battle the worst American fire season in 50 years.
Nineteen large wildfires are burning out of control in eight States, and it is feared the situation will get worse.
What a treat that is. The firefighters immediately started collecting their 1 year unemployment benefits while cheaper H1-B visa holders were imported. Thanks lawyers for your special equal treatment under the law.
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