Australian authorities retrieve bodies of US firefighters from crash site

The bodies of three U.S. firefighters have been located after a deadly plane crash in remote Australia earlier this week. 

Police and investigators began their probe into the accident of the C-130 tanker plane on Thursday to determine the cause of the crash.

Captain Ian H. McBeth, 44, and Flight Engineer Rick DeMorgan Jr., 43, served in the U.S. Air Force. First Officer Paul Clyde Hudson, 42, was a former Marine. All men had prior experience with aircraft engineering and flight operations, according to Reuters. 

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo shared his condolences with the victims’ the families, saying: “These heroes exemplified the great American tradition of standing with our partners and allies.”

Our deepest condolences to the families of the American firefighters who perished standing with Australia to fight their devastating nationwide wildfires. These heroes exemplified the great American tradition of standing with our partners and allies.

— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 24, 2020

The men were in Australia helping battle the deadly bushfires that are raging across the country. The most recent update from New South Wales Rural Fire Service shows there are 54 bushfires still burning and 20 that have yet to be contained. 

The Good Good fire (Snowy Monaro) has been downgraded to Advice. Conditions have begun to ease across the fireground.

54 bush and grass fires are burning across NSW, with 20 still to be contained. Crews will work overnight constructing and consolidating containment lines #nswrfs pic.twitter.com/A3JzUZk4ZJ

— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) January 25, 2020

Since the start of the devastating bushfires in October, 33 people have died along with millions of animals and approximately 25.7 million acres of land.