A nine-member wildland fire crew from the National Park of American Samoa departed Pago Pago Monday night for a monthlong assignment supporting wildfire response on the U.S. mainland.

The crew, composed primarily of National Park Service employees and supported by Administratively Determined, or AD, firefighters, will work alongside federal, state and local partners responding to wildfires and helping protect communities, natural and cultural resources, and other values at risk.

Throughout the year, the National Park of American Samoa’s wildland firefighters train and maintain the qualifications and readiness necessary to support fire operations beyond American Samoa. Their deployment is part of the broader interagency wildland fire response system that moves trained personnel and resources to areas where they are needed.

For the nine firefighters who left American Samoa, the assignment will also take them thousands of miles from their families and island community. They carry with them the values of service, teamwork and community that are central to fa‘asamoa, the Samoan way of life.

Those values remain part of the crew even while working far from home. National Park of American Samoa firefighters have shared Samoan songs and chants during previous assignments, strengthening camaraderie and morale while sharing their culture with fellow firefighters from across the country.

Superintendent of the National park of American Samoa PT Lathrop said , “We are incredibly proud of these nine firefighters and grateful to the families and community supporting them while they are away.

“When they answer the call to help communities thousands of miles from American Samoa, they represent not only the National Park Service, but the strength, professionalism and spirit of our islands. We wish them a safe and successful assignment and look forward to welcoming them home.”