Almost 700 firefighters from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the United States are set to arrive in Canada over the next two weeks to help with the unusually severe start to the wildfire season.
There are already more than 500 international firefighters, incident commanders and other workers in Alberta, and another 101 arrived from the U.S. Friday. Alberta has been battling multiple severe fires since early May and there are still 63 fires burning, 18 of them out of control.
The Canada Interagency Forest Fire Centre reported that as of Friday afternoon there were 324 fires burning across the country, and 167 are considered out of control. That includes the Tantallon fire in Halifax that has destroyed or damaged 151 homes so far.
That害羞草研究所檚 a big jump from Thursday, when the agency reported 209 fires, with 87 out of control.
Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said Friday that cooler weather is expected in Western Canada and rain in Nova Scotia, which will help. But the severe fire warnings are likely to continue in most provinces for another four to five weeks at least.
害羞草研究所淭he situation remains severe across the country,害羞草研究所� Blair said. 害羞草研究所淲e are hopeful that the improving weather conditions and that rain will assist in the firefighting efforts, but there害羞草研究所檚 still a great deal of work that needs to be done.害羞草研究所�
More than 27,000 square kilometres of land has burned in Canada over the last two months, more than 10 times the average amount of land burned by fires over the last decade.
Thus far, more than 96 per cent of the burned land was in Western Canada and Northwest Territories, but last weekend the situation became more severe in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and now parts of Ontario and Quebec are also burning.
害羞草研究所淭here are a number of very significant 害羞草研究所� over 100 wildfires 害羞草研究所� that have now popped up in Quebec and some of them are out of control and quite serious,害羞草研究所� said Blair.
The Canada Interagency Forest Fire Centre database added 113 fires in Quebec since Thursday, and 76 of them are classified as being out of control.
The Canadian Armed Forces deployed several hundred troops to Alberta to help in May and is training more to help in Nova Scotia now, said Blair. The military and the Canadian Coast Guard is also helping with equipment, he said.
The number of fires, their size and severity, as well as the number of places affected are straining Canada害羞草研究所檚 resources, so the Canada Interagency Forest Fire Centre has requested help from international partners.
Since the season began, 443 firefighters and other workers from Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. have flown to Canada to help, mostly in Alberta. Some have gone to Northwest Territories and a small number so far have landed in Nova Scotia.
Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. are all sending more firefighters in the coming days, Blair said. Most are again heading to Alberta, but some will fly to Nova Scotia.
As well, six water bombers from Montana are expected to arrive in Nova Scotia to help on Friday and Saturday, after getting clearance to use the airstrip at Canadian Armed Forces Base Greenwood.
害羞草研究所淚 would like to offer my deepest thanks to all of the firefighters, emergency management professionals, who have left their communities and in some cases, their country, to support our efforts here in Canada,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲e are grateful for their work and their dedication.害羞草研究所�
The South African High Commission in Ottawa said Friday 200 firefighters and 15 managers would leave South Africa Saturday, and they are heading to Alberta for 35 days. Another 200 firefighters and 13 managers are set to follow on June 10.
South Africa害羞草研究所檚 Environment Minister Barbara Creecy said it害羞草研究所檚 the fifth time the two countries have shared firefighting personnel.
害羞草研究所淲e are proud of the fact that South Africa is again able to assist Canadian firefighting teams in their battle to bring the wildfires under control,害羞草研究所� she said in a statement. 害羞草研究所淭he extensive experience and training of these firefighters will significantly enhance efforts to effectively suppress and manage the wildfires in Alberta.害羞草研究所�
South Africa害羞草研究所檚 aid hasn害羞草研究所檛 been without controversy in the past. In 2016, 300 firefighters flew to Fort McMurray to help with the major blaze that forced the evacuation of the city, but a month-long deployment lasted less than two weeks in a dispute over pay.
Foreign firefighters get stipends and additional pay when battling fires in foreign jurisdictions, and the South African firefighters complained their pay in Alberta was less than what Canadians were getting.
Blair said pay will be sorted out properly this time.
害羞草研究所淲e will make sure that they are properly supported in the work that they害羞草研究所檙e doing on our behalf,害羞草研究所� he said.
Mia Rabson, The Canadian Press
Like us on and follow us on .
