Australia mourns U.S. firefighters as probe into plane crash begins

MELBOURNE/SYDNEY (Reuters) - Firefighters in Australia held a minute's silence on Friday for three U.S. colleagues killed in a plane crash as investigators scoured the accident site in remote bushland. Flags on official buildings in New South Wales (NSW) state, where the C-130 Hercules crashed while on a mission to dump retardant on a huge wildfire, were flown at half-mast as a mark of respect. "We will forever be indebted to the enormous contribution and indeed the ultimate sacrifice that's been paid as a result of these extraordinary individuals doing a remarkable job," NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said at a farewell near Sydney airport for 32 U.S. firefighters who were returning home after weeks on duty on Australia.
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