Fighting fires using helicopters is an invaluable skill brothers Kieran and Nathan Sullivan learnt in Canada which they say will come in handy when fighting fires in Northland.
The Whangarei siblings returned this week after a four-month stint fighting a number of large fires that burnt in Sioux Lookout, a town in Ontario, and also fires in British Columbia.
The Forest Protection Services employees left after an invitation by Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services in Ontario to send over rural firefighters.
"It was pretty well worth it," Nathan said.
After a week-long theory test after their arrival, they went through a gruelling fitness test that involved carrying a water pump on their back, wearing a hose bag and going over a ramp 50 times. They had to finish the task in 14 minutes 30 seconds.