A C-130 Hercules air tanker crashed in southeastern Australia while battling bushfires, killing the three crew members. Australian authorities said all three were Americans.  

In a statement, Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne said, "Our hearts go out to their loved ones. They were helping Australia, far from their own homes, an embodiment of the deep friendship between our two countries."  

The plane was owned by Coulson Aviation in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was contracted for firefighting by the Rural Fire Services (RFS). 

The plane was deployed to the Snowy Monaro region for water bombing the fires. 

So far, the cause of the crash has not been determined. Thirty-two people have died in the hundreds of wildfires that have broken out since September. 

Authorities estimate  over one billion animals may have died.  

Over 2,500 homes have been incinerated by fire. 10.4 million hectares (25.7 million acres) has burned. 

CGTN spoke with David Bowman, the director of the Fire Centre at the University of Tasmania's school of natural sciences.  

Bowman shared some ideas for dealing with wildfires in the future and how other countries can learn from Australia's crisis.