US sheriffs say two Australian firefighters patrolling a fire in remote Washington state with two local officers were confused and not being shot at, despite detailing the lengthy ordeal in a debriefing note and being airlifted out of the area after scrambling to an evacuation point.

The Yakima County Sheriff office said the incident, which occurred on August 23 when Australian firefighters were working to control a fire near the popular White Pass ski destination, was "a misunderstanding".

NSW firefighters Daniel Barwick, left and Phillip Eberle, right, are the two Australians identified as being involved in the incident.

"If they [the firefighters] felt they were in danger then that's how they felt, but the evidence does not show they were in danger in any way other than them being completely surprised by people and gunshots," the Yakima County Sheriff's office spokesman Casey Schilperoort said.

"I completely understand how the firefighters were surprised to see people and having five or six shots fired off in an area where they are at," he said.